-2.  .2  34 


ERECTING  OF  A  LIBRARY 


INSTRUCTIONS 

Concerning  Eredling  of  a 

LIBRARY: 

Prefented  to  My  LORD 

The  PRESIDENT 

De  MESME. 


BY 

GABRIEL  NAUDEUS,P. 

And  now  Interpreted 


BY 


Jo.  EVELYN,  Efquire. 


CAMER  ID  G  £, 

Printed  for  Houghton,  Mifflin  &  Company, 

at  the  Riverfide  Prefs, 

l  903. 


Ill 


INTRODUCTION 

GABRIEL  NAUDE,  the  author  of 
"Advispour  DreJJer  une  Biblio- 
theque,"  was  a  medical ftudent  of  twenty- 
two,  in  Paris,  when  Prejident  Henri  de 
Mefmes  made  him  his  librarian  in  1622. 
He  had  already  gained  repute  asfcholar 
and  bibliophile.  He  foon  returned  to  his 
medical  Jludies ;  but  his  librarian/hip 
under  de  Mefmes  hadjhown  him  where 
his  tq/tes  and  talents  lay,  and  determined 
his  career.  The  "  Advis  "  was  written 
and  printed  in  1627  tofave  the  labour  of 
writing  out  the  many  copies  ajkedfor  by 
his  friends,  of  his  opinions  and  advice  on 
books  and  libraries.  It  is  an  indifpenfa- 
ble  document  in  the  hijtory  of  the  Maza- 

rin 


Introduction 


rin  library,  for,  as  Sainte-Beuve  Jays, 
that  library  has  "  thefeal  o/*  Naude  over 
it  all."  It  embodies,  in  fa£t,  the  very 
fpirit  of  Naude;  itforecafts  his  career; 
itfuggejls  by  its  many  allujions  the  young 
mans  learning ;  and  above  all,  it  fets 
forth  the  principles  its  brilliant  author 
was  to  follow  twenty  years  later,  firft  in 
building,  next  in  making  "  open  to  all  the 
world,  without  excluding  a  living  foul,'9 
the  great  library  of  Cardinal  Mazarin. 
{^  Naude  completed  his  medical  Jiudies 
with  honour,  was  librarian  fuccejjively  to 
Cardinals  Bagni  &  Barberini  in  Italy, 
was  recalled  to  Paris  by  Richelieu  jujl 
before  the  latter  s  death,  and  at  forty- 
two  was  engaged  by  Mazarin  to  form  his 
library.  For  Jive  years  he  vijited  the  book 
markets  of  Europe  and  gathered treafures, 

and, 


Introduction 


and,  as  Sainte  Eeuvefays, "  attained  the 
accompli/hment  of  the  dream  and  the  la- 
bour of  his  whole  life.'9  Naude  died  on  his 
way  home  from  ajbortftay  in  Stockholm, 
where  he  was  librarian  to  Queen  Chrif- 
tina,  at  Abbeville,  July  29,  1653.  Gui 
Patin,  his  moft  intimate  friend,  defcribes 
him  as  tall  and  fpare,  and  lithe  in  his 
movements.  Patin,  with  others,  te/ttfies 
that  he  w as  wife,far-feeing9  and  of  well- 
balanced  mind ;  and  that  he  led  a  chq/te 
and  fober  life.  He  wrote  much  in  both 
French  and  Latin .  Of  himfelf  he f  aid,  in 
his  "  Refined  Politics,"  "  I  have  addreff'd 
my  f elf  to  the  Mufes,  without  being  too 
much  enamour9  d  of  them ;  I  was  pleqf'd 
with  my  Studies,  but  not  too  much  ad- 
diStedto  them ;  Ipaff'd  through  a  Courfe 
of  Scholqftick  Philofophy,  without  med- 
dling 


Introduction 


dling  with  the  contentious  part  of  it,  and 
through  that  of  the  Ancient  and  Mod- 
erns, without  being  partial  to  any  SeSl. 
.  .  .  Pedantry  might  have  gained  fome- 
thing  upon  my  Behaviour  and  Carriage, 
during  f even  or  eight  Tears  that  IJtaidin 
the  Colleges,  but  lean  ajfure  myjelf  that 
it  obtained  no  Advantage  overmyfpirit. " 
{£  The  "Advis  "  appeared  in  an  edition 
revifed  by  the  author  in  1 644 .  It  has  been 
feveral  times  reprinted  in  French,  and 
once  in  Latin .  The  tranflation  here  given 
is  that  of  John  Evelyn,  and  is  referred  to 
more  than  once  in  the  better  known  "  Di- 
ary." Under  the  date,  November  16, 
1661,  occurs  the  entry :  "  I  prefentedmy 
tranflation  of'  Naudaeus  concerning  Li- 
braries' to  my  Lord  Chancellour,  but  it  was 
miferablyfalfe  printed; "  and  another  en- 
try 


Introduction         vii 


try  a  few  days  later  defcribes  the  vote  of 
thanks  from  "our  philofophic  affembly," 
in  recognition  of  "the  honourable  men- 
tion I  made  of  them  by  the  name  of  Royal 
Society  "  in  the  dedication  to  "  my  Tra- 
duStion  of  Naudeus  "as  "  too  great  an 
honour  for  a  trifle."  This  "  TraduEtion," 
to  life  Evelyn's  quaint  word,  has  been 
here  followed  exaffily,  with  the  exception 
of  a  few  obvious  typographical  errors. 

JOHN  COTTON  DANA. 


IX 


To  the  Right  Honourable  EDWARD, 
Earl  of  CLARENDON,  Vijcount  CORN- 
BERY,  Baron  HTDE  of  HYNDON  ; 
Lord  High  Chancellour  of  England, 
Chancellour  of  the  Univerfity  of  Ox- 
ford, and  one  of  the  Lords  of  His 
Majefties  Privy  Council. 

MT  LORD, 

I  HAVE  had  fo  great  a  thirft  to  tefti- 
fie  to  your  Lordfhip,  and  to  publifh 
to  the  World  the  extraordinary  Zeal 
which  I  have  for  your  fervice ;  that  pre- 
tending to  fo  little  merit  of  my  own,  and 
yet  having  fo  many  obligations  upon 
me,  I  am  to  be  excuf  'd,  if  in  making 
ufe  of  anothers  Labours  to  accomplifh 
my  deiign,  I  take  occafion  by  this  Ded- 
ication, 


x  Dedication 


ication,  to  declare  to  the  world,  how 
immenfe  your  favours  are,  and  how 
prone  I  am  to  acknowledge  them  to  the 
utmoft  of  my  Talents :  And  perhaps  it 
will  be  more  acceptable  to  your  Lord- 
fhip,  that  I  exprefs  this  rather  by  put- 
ting an  excellent  Authour  into  your 
hands  (of  which  I  pretend  onelyto  have 
been  the  Interpreter]  than,  whilft  that 
learned  perfon  difcourfes  fo  well  of  ex- 
cellent Books,  to  have  multiplied  the 
number  of  the  ill-ones,  byfome  produc- 
tion of  my  own.  I  have  made  choice 
(my  Lord)  of  this  Argument  to  pre- 
fent  to  your  Honour,  becaufe  I  efteem 
it  the  mod  appofite,  and  the  moft  be- 
coming, as  it  has  an  afpe6lto  your  Lord- 
fhips  nobleft  Character,  which  is  to  be  as 
well  L.  Chancellour  of  the  moft  famous 

Univerjity 


Dedication  xi 


Univerfity  of  the  World,  as  L.  High 
Chancellour  of  England;  and,  becaufe 
I  think,  worthily  to  prefide  over  Men 
of  Letters,  is  a  greater  dignity  than  to 
be  born  to  the  name  of  Empire ;  fo,  as 
what  was  faid  of  the  great  Themiftius 
in  the  Epigramm,  may  with  equal  truth 
be  applied  to  your  Lordfhip  in  all  the 
glorious  fteps  which  you  have  afcended 
— v\)v  yap  aw  /carets,  That  you  were 
never  lefs  than  now  you  are;  efpecially, 
fince  your  Lordfhips  Titles  are  not  fo 
much  the  produ6t  of  your  Fortune,  as 
the  effeft  of  your  Merits;  verifying  by 
your  univerfal  knowledge,  the  Rank 
you  hold  over  the  Learned  Republique, 
as  well  as  over  the  Political;  which  is, 
in  fumm,  to  be  the  greateft  and  moft  ac- 
complifh'd  Mini/ter,  that  this  Nation  has 


ever 


Dedication 


ever  celebrated.  But  in  nothing  does 
this  appear  more  confpicuous,  and  for 
which  your  Lordfhip  has  greater  caufe 
to  rejoice  in,  then  that  God  hasenlight- 
n'd  your  great  Mind,  with  a  fervour  fo 
much  becoming  it  in  the  promoting  and 
encouraging  of  the  ROYAL  SOCIE- 
TY; which  is  in  one  word,  to  have  dared 
a  nobler  thing,  than  has  been  donethefe 
fifty  Ages  and  more,  that  the  Knowledge 
of  Caiifes,a.nd  the  Nature  of  Things  have 
layn  concealed  from  us ;  and  that  the 
World  has  continued,  without  once  hav- 
ing aflum'd  the  Courage  and  Refolu- 
tion,  which  our  Illuftrious  Prince,  and 
your  Lordfhip,  have  fhewed  in  eftablifh- 
ing,  and  cultivating  a  Defign  fo  worthy, 
and  perfe6live  of  Humane  Felicity,  as 
far,  at  leaft,  as  in  this  life  men  may  hope 

to 


Dedication  xiii 


to  attain  it.  My  Lord,  This  is  your  Hon- 
our, and  this  is  truely  to  fix  and  to  merit 
it.  For  let  men  talk  what  they  pleafe 
of  the  Laurells  of  Conquerours,the  Ti- 
tles of  great  men,  illuftrious  and  am- 
ple Pofterity ;  all  the  pleafures  of  the 
lower  fenfes  how  exalted  foever  by  the 
effe6ls  of  Opulence,  &  Fortune;  which 
make  indeed  a  great  noife,  and  ftir  for 
the  time ;  and,  whilft  the  World  is  in 
the  Paroxyfme,  bear  much  before  them; 
dazling  the  eyes  of  the  Vulgar,  &  flat- 
tering the  weaker  difcernements;  They 
arrive  not  to  the  leaft  perceptible  de- 
gree of  that  Dignity,  and  true  honour 
which  a  man  may  raife  to  himfelf  by 
noble  and  virtuous  A6lions;  Becaufe 
there  is  nothing  folid  in  them,  they  laft 
but  for  a  moment,  in  their  ufing  lan- 

guifh 


xiv         Dedication 


guifh  and  expire.  He  that  would  lay  a 
Foundation  of  true  &  permanent  Hon- 
our, that  would  place  it  beyond  the  reach 
of  Envy,  muft  qualifie  it  with  fomething 
more  noble  and  intelleftual,  and  which 
is  not  obnoxious  to  the  common  vicif- 
fitudes  ;  becaufe,  by  whatever  circum- 
ftances  fuch  a  worthy  Defign  may  hap- 
pen to  be  difcompof  'd,  it  will  neverthe- 
lefs  be  celebrated  as  long  as  Virtue 
fhall  have  an  Advocate  here ;  and  when 
the  World  fhall  become  fo  deprav'd, 
that  there  is  nothing  fincere  remaining 
in  it,  God  himfelf  will  remunerate  it 
hereafter.  If  the  Soveraignes  and  Pu- 
iflances  of  the  Earth  (having  fated 
themfelves  with  their  Triumphs  over 
Men  and  Provinces,  enlarged  their  Do- 
minions, and  eftablifh'd  their  eftates) 

would 


Dedication 


would  one  day  think  (as  our  glorious 
Prince  has  begun  to  them)  of  extend- 
ing, and  amplifying  the  Bounds  &  Em- 
pire of  real  Philofophy,  in  purfuite  of 
thofe  Magnalia  Nature,  to  the  glory 
and  contemplation  of  the  Maker,  and 
the  univerfal  benefit  of  Mankind;  how 
happy  would  fuch  Princes  be,  how  for- 
tunate their  People !  And  truely  this  has 
made  me  frequently  to  confider,  where- 
in the  felicity  of  that  great  Monarch  con- 
fifted,  whofe  heart  was  fo  enlarged  with 
knowledge,  improv'd  to  the  good  of  his 
Subje6ls,  where  filver  was  as  the  ftones 
of  the  ftreets  for  abundance,  and  the 
conveniences  of  life  fo  generally  afflu- 
ent: Certainly  it  is  by  fuch  a  Defign  as 
our  own  Solomon,  and  your  Lord/hip,  is 
about  to  favour,  that  even  We  may 

hope 


xvi          Dedication 


hope  for  thofe  glorious  times  again,  & 
by  which  the  publique  health  may  be 
confirm  'd,  our  Lives  produced,  know- 
ledge and  converfation  improved,  and 
joy  and  contentednefs  become  as  uni- 
verfal  as  the  Air  which  gives  us  breath : 
For  my  Lord,  what  can  be  more  glori- 
ous, and  worthy  a  Prince,  to  which  God 
himfelf  has  faid,  Dixi,  Dii  eftis,  I  have 
J aid  ye  are  Gods,  then  by  this  means  to 
aid,  and  to  comfort  Mankind,  which  is 
environ'd  with  fuch  variety  of  Miferies  ? 
And  to  emancipate,  &  redeem  the  reft, 
who  by  the  utmoft  of  their  endeavours 
afpire  to  more  happinefs,  to  be  freed 
from  the  Preffures,Errours  and  infinite 
Miftakes  which  they  fall  into,  for  want 
of  Experiences,  and  competent  fubfid- 
iaries  to  eflay  them.  But  to  accomplifh 

this, 


Dedication          xvii 


this,  my  Lord,  There  is  certainly  no- 
thing more  expedient,  than  in  purfuite 
of  that  ftupendious  Idea  of  your  Illuftri- 
ous  Predecefjbr,  to  fet  upon  a  Defign  no 
way  beneath  that  of  his  Solomons  Houfe; 
which,  however  lofty,  and  to  appear- 
ance Romantic,  has  yet  in  it  nothing  of 
Impoffible  to  be  effected,  not  onely  con- 
fidering  it  as  Himfelf  has  fomewhere 
defin'd  the  Qualifications,  but  as  your 
Lord/hip  has  defign'd  the  Inftruments 
(and  may  in  time,  the  Materials}  as  all 
the  World  muft  needs  acknowledge, 
that  fhall  but  caft  an  eye  over  the  Cat- 
alogue of  fuch  as  have  already  devoted 
themfelves;  Becaufe  (but  for  the  mif- 
take  which  they  made  in  honouring  me 
with  their  fuffrages)  I  fhould  not  blufh 
to  pronounce  the  Royal-Society  furnifh'd 

with 


xviii          Dedication 


with  an  Affembly  as  accomplifh'd  for 
that  noble  and  great  Attempt,  as  Eu- 
rope, or  the  whole  World  befides,  has 
any  to  produce ;  And  that,  my  Lord, 
becaufe  it  does  not  confift  of  a  Company 
of  Pedants,  &  fuperficial  perfons  ;  but 
of  Gentlemen,  and  Refined  Spirits  that 
are  univerfally  Learn'd,  that  are  Read, 
TravelVd,  Experiencd  and  Stout;  in 
fumm,  my  Lord,  fuch  as  becomes  your 
Honour  to  cherifh,  and  our  Prince  to 
glory  in.  Thefe  are  the  Perfons,  my 
Lord,  that  without  the  leaft  of  fordid, 
and  felf  intereft,  do  fupplicate  the  con- 
tinuance of  your  Lordfhips  Prote6lion, 
and  by  your  Influences  to  put  them  into 
a  farther  capacity  to  proceed  in  that  glo- 
rious Work  of  Reftoring  the  Sciences, 
Interpreting  Nature,  unfolding  the  ob- 

ftrufities 


Dedication         *ix 


ftrufities  of  Arts,  for  the  Recovery  of 
the  Loft;  Inventing,  and  Augmenting 
of  new  and  ufeful  Things,  &  for  what- 
foever  elfe  is  in  the  Dominion  of  infe- 
riour  Agents.  For  my  own  part,  my 
Lord,  I  profefs  it,  that  were  it  in  my 
power  to  choofe,  I  had  rather  be  the 
Author  of  one  good  and  beneficial  In- 
vention, than  to  have  been  Julius  Cte- 
far,  or  the  great  Alexander  himfelf;  & 
do  range  the  Names  of  a  Gilbert,  a  Ba- 
con, a  Harvey,  a  Guttemberge,  Columbus, 
Goia,  Metius,  Janellus,  Thyco,  Galileo 
(not  to  mention  Hippocrates,  Proclus, 
Hieron,  Archimedes,  Ctejibes,  Boetius,  & 
what  more  of  the  Antients)  who  gave 
us  the  Ufe  of  the  Load-ftone,  Taught  us 
the  Art  of  Printing;  found  out  the  Circu- 
lation of  the  Blood,  detected  new  Worlds, 


invented 


xx          Dedication 


invented  the  Telefcope,  and  other  opti- 
call  GlaffeSy  Engines  and  Automates,  a- 
mongft  the  Heroes,  whom  they  Dejfi'd, 
and  placed  above  the  Stars;  becaufe 
they  were  the  Authors  of  ten  thoufand 
more  worthy  Things,  than  thofe  who 
had  never  been  named  but  for  their 
blood-fhed  and  cruelty,  pride  and  pro- 
digious lufts ;  nor  would  any  memory 
of  them  have  been  preferv'd  from  ob- 
livion, but  for  the  Pens  of  fuch  great 
GeniuJ's  &  learned  men,  of  whom  fome 
of  them  did  the  leaft  deferve.  The  no- 
ble Verulam  your  Lordfhips  Predecef- 
for,  as  he  out-ftripp'd  all  who  went  be- 
fore him  ;  fo  is  he  celebrated  as  far  as 
knowledge  has  any  Empire ;  and  (mau- 
gre  the  frowardnefs  of  his  latter  For- 
tune) the  Learned  rife  up  at  the  found 

of 


Dedication 


of  his  very  Name ;  And  for  what  is  all 
this  ?  But  his  great  and  fhining  endea- 
vours to  advance  the  excellency  of 
mens  Spirits,  cultivate  humane  Induftry, 
and  raife  an  Amphitheatre  of  Wifdom, 
without  which  this  publique  Soul  of  his 
had  flept  as  much  negle6led  and  forgot- 
ten, as  thofe  who  onely  became  great  by 
their  power,  &  perifh'd  with  it.  All  this 
your  Lordfhip  knows ;  and  therefore  as 
your  Education  has  been  amongft  the 
moft  refin'd,  you  burn  with  a  defire  to 
improve  it  alfo  amongft  others  ;  fo  that 
the  Chancellours  of  France  fhall  not  for 
ever  bear  away  the  Reputation  of  hav- 
ing rendred  that  Spot  the  envy  of  Eu- 
rope, for  being  Fautors  and  Macenaf's 
to  fo  many  rare  Witts,  and  laudable  So- 
cieties, as  are  amongft  that  Mercurial 

people 


Dedication 


people ;  fince  there  is  that  left  for  your 
Lord/hip  and  our  Nation,  which  is  as  far 
beyond  the  polifhingof  Phrafes,  &  cul- 
tivating Language,  as  Heaven  is  fupe- 
riour  to  Earth,  &  Things  are  better  than 
Words;  Though  even  thofe  alfo  will  not 
be  negle6led  in  their  due  Time  &  Or- 
der: But  it  is  prodigious  onely  to  eon- 
fider,  how  long  thefe  fhells  have  been 
plai'd  with,  &  pleafed  the  World;  That 
after  fo  many  Revolutions,  in  which 
Learning  has  been  feen  as  it  were  at  its 
higheft  Afcendent,  there  never  yet  ap- 
peared any  man  of  Power,  who  pof- 
feff'd  a  Soul  big  enough,  &  judgement 
fuitable,  to  ere<5l  fome  confiderable 
Foundation  for  Practical  Philofophers,  & 
for  the  Aflembling  of  fuch  whofe  united, 
and  affiduous  Endeavours,  might  pen- 
etrate 


Dedication        xxiii 


etrate  beyond  the  Walls  of  what  is  yet 
difcover'd,  or  receiv'd  upon  truft 

Atque    omne    immenjum   peragrarent 
mente,  animoque 

That  might  redeem  the  World  from  the 
Infolency  of  fo  many  Errours  as  we 
find  by  daily  experience  will  not  abide 
the  Teft,  and  yet  retain  their  Tyranny ; 
and  that  by  the  credit  onely  &  addrefs 
of  thofe  many  Fencing- Schools  which 
have  been  built  (not  to  name  them  Col- 
ledges}  and  endow'd  in  all  our  Univer- 
Jities :  I  fpeak  not  here  of  thofe  rever- 
end, and  renouned  Societies  which  con- 
verfe  with  Theologie,  cultivate  the  Laws, 
Municipal,  or  Forreign ;  But,  I  deplore 
with  juft  indignation,  the  fupine  negle6l 
of  the  Other,  amongft  fuch  numbers  as 

are 


xxiv         Dedication 


are  fet  apart  for  empty,  and  lefle  fruit- 
ful Speculations ;  efpecially,  fince  I  find 
the  pretences  of  fo  many  fober  &  qual- 
ified perfons  as  have  deplor'd  this  ef- 
fe6l,  fo  very  reafonable,  and  fo  emi- 
nently beneficial.  Butwhy dol  abound? 
Your  Lord/hip  who  is  already  pofleff'd 
with  all  this,  is  not  to  be  inftru6led,  with- 
out prefumption  &  impertinence,  which 
cannot  be  the  leaft  defign  of  this  Epiftle; 
fince  thofe  who  know  both  your  Lord- 
fhips  affe6lion,  and  inclination  to  pro- 
mote fo  glorious  a  Work,  know  alfo, 
that  there  is  none  more  able  to  make  it 
attain  to  its  defired  prote6lion.  And  this 
is,  my  Lord,  worthily  to  confult  your 
Fame,  &  to  eternize  your  Name  in  the 
World  amongft  the  Good  &  the  Virtu- 
ous; which  will  make  you  live  not  onely 


in 


Dedication          xxv 


in  the  Mouths  &  Pens,  but  in  the  Hearts 
of  gallant  Perfons,  and  fuch  as  beft  fkill 
to  make  Eftimates  of  the  Favours  you 
fhall  confer  upon  them  ;  becaufe  they 
feek  it  not  out  of  private  advantage, 
fordid  purpofes,  or  artificially ;  but  to 
the  ends  propof  'd  ;  The  enlargement 
of  real  knowledge,  and  for  the  publique 
benefit;  in  fum,  my  Lord,  for  the  moft 
ufeful  and  nobleft  eflfe<5ls,  and  for  the 
Glory  of  God.  And  thus,  my  Lord,  I 
have  taken  the  boldnefs  in  prefenting 
your  Honour  with  this  little  Difcourfe 
of  Books  and  Libraries,  to  put  thefe  Re- 
fle6lions  of  mine  into  your  Lordfhips 
hands ;  Becaufe,  as  having  my  felf  the 
honour  to  have  fome  Relation  to  that 
AJJembly,  who  make  thefe  their  pre- 
tences to  conciliate  your  Efteem,  I 

think 


xxvi        Dedication 


think  my  felf  obliged  to  acknowledge 
with  them  likewife,  your  Lordfhips  fa- 
vourable Reception  of  their  late  Ad- 
drejjes;  and  becaufe  I  am  for  fo  many 
other  obligations  in  particular,  to  pub- 
lilh  to  the  world,  how  perfe<5lly  I  am, 

My  Lord, 

Tour  mo/t  humble,  and  mo/t 
obliged  Servant, 
].  EVELYN. 


Instru6lions 


XXV11 


Inftru6lions  concerning  Ere6ling  of  a 
Library,  prefented  to  my  Lord  the 
Prefident  De  Mefme,  by  Gabr.  Nau- 
deus  P. 

TO  THE  READER 

THIS  Advice  occajion'd  by  a  cer- 
tain difpute,  which  was  fome 
monethsjince  controverted  in  his  Library , 
who  was  thenpleaf'd  to  accept  of  it,  had 
never  been  drawn  out  of  the  duft  of  my 
ftudy,  and  expof'd  to  the  Light;  till  not 
finding  my  f  elf  able  to  render  a  better,  or 
more  fpeedy  fatisfaStion  to  the  curiofity 
of  many  of  my  Friends,  who  defired 
Copies  of  it,  I  at  loft  refolv  'd  to  print  it : 
as  well  that  it  might  deliver  me  from  the 
charge  and  inconveniency  of  the  Tran- 

fcribers, 


xxviii  To  the  Reader 


fcriberSy  as  for  my  natural  propenfity  to 
oblige  the  publique ;  zvhom,  if  this  Ad- 
vice be  not  worthy  tofatisfie,  it  may  yet 
ferve  as  a  Guide  at  leaft  to  thofe  who  de- 
Jire  tofurnifh  the  world  with  better ',  that 
it  may  no  longer  be  deprived  of  a  piece 
which  feems  wanting  to  its  felicity ;  and, 
for  which  refpeffi  alone  I  have  beenjirjl 
conflraind  to  break  the  Yce,  and  trace  the 
way  curforily  for  thofe  who  may  render 
it  more  perfpicuous  at  their  leafure;  This 
if  you  Jhall  accept ,  IJhall  have  caufe  to 
acknowledge  your  civility,  &  good  will; 
Ifotherwife,  IJhall,  at  leaft,  requejt  you 
to  excufe  my  faults,  and  thofe  of  the 
Printer. 


A  Table 


XXIX 


A  Table  of  the  principal  Matter s, 
treated  of  in  thefe  InftruElions. 

CHAP,  i .  One  ought  to  be  curious 
in  ere6ling  of  Libraries,  and  why? 
Chap.  2.  How  to  inform  ones  felf,  and 

what  we  are  to  know  concerning 

the  ere<5ling  of  a  Library. 
Chap.  3.  The  Number  of  Books  which 

are  requifite. 
Chap.^.  Of  what  quality  and  condition 

they  ought  to  be. 
Chap.  5.  By  what  expedients  they  may 

be  procured. 
Chap.  6.  The  difpofition  of  the  Place 

where  they  fhould  be  kept. 
Chap.  7.  The  Orders  which  it  is  requi- 
fite to  affign  them. 

Chap. 


XXX 


A  Table 


Chap.  8.  Of  the  Ornament  and  Deco- 
ration neceffarily  to  be  obferved. 

Chap.  9.  What  ought  to  be  the  principal 
Scope,  and  end  of  fuch  a  Library. 


In 


XXXI 


In  primum  Jlruenda  ordinatim  Biblio- 
theca: AuEtorem,  Gabr.  Naudaeum. 

Epigramma. 

Compofuiffe  Libros^promptum  &  trivia  le  cuique  eft ; 
Librorum  Auttores  compofuijfe,  Tuum  eft. 

EJUSDEM    LUSUS. 

Bibliotheca  licet  tot  fts  Naudaee  librorum, 

Cufa  heec  non  tamen  eft  Bibliotheca  tua. 
Non  etenim  veluti  plantam  parit  altera  planta^ 

Bibliotbecam  aliam  Bibliotheca  parit. 
Si  tamen  ifta  Tua  eft^  mihi  credito  non  nifi  mon- 
ftrum  eft, 

Cum  Bibliothecam  aliam  Bibliotheca  parit. 
At  monftrum  ejfe  negas ;  quod  doff  a  lutetia  laudat  : 

Ergo  divints  fabrica  mentis  erit. 
Non  divum  eft,  inquis,  humana  conditum  ab  arte : 

Die  ergo  tua  tu  Bibliotheca  quid  eft  ? 

J.  C.  FREY,  Doft.  Medic.  &  Philofoph. 
in  Academia  Paris.   Decanus. 


JANUS 


XXX11 


'  JANUS  C^CILIUS  FREY. 

Invia  ad  artes  &  Scientias.  Pars  4. 
praecepta  continet  ordinandi  Biblio 
thecas. 


SCRIPSIT  AUREUM  NUPER  DE  HAC 
RE  LIBELLUM  GALLUM  GABRIEL 
NAUD^EUS.  EGO  FAUCIS  REM  DIFFI- 
CILLIMAM  ORDINATIM  PROFERAM. 


INSTRUCTIONS 


INSTRUCTIONS 

Concerning  Ere£ting 
of  a  Library, /V*/£#ta/ 
to  My  Lord  the  Prefi- 
dent  DE  MESME. 

....  Juvat  immemorata  ferentem 
Ingenuis  oculifq;  legi,manibufq;  teneri. 

MT  LORD, 

SUPPOSE  it  will  not  ap- 
pear unreafonable,  that  I 
give  the  Title  &  Quality 
of  a  thing  unheard  of  to 
this  Difcourfe,  which  I 
prefent  you  with  as  much  aflfeftion,  as 
your  favour,  &  the  fervice  which  I  owe 
you,  oblige  me  to  do:  fince  it  is  certain, 

that 


2  Erecting  of 

that  amongft  the  almoft  infinite  number 
which  have  to  this  day  taken  the  Pen  in 
hand,  there  never  arrived  any  yet  ( to  my 
knowledge)  upon  whofe  advice  a  man 
might  regulate  himfelf  concerning  the 
choice  of  Books,  the  means  of  procuring 
them,  and  how  they  fhould  be  difpof  'd 
of,  that  they  might  appear  with  profit 
and  honour  in  a  fair  &  Sumptuous  Bib- 
liotheque. 

C,For  though  we  have  indeed  the  Coun- 
fell  which  is  given  us  by  John  Baptift 
Cardon,  Bifhop  of  Tortofa,  touching  the 
ere6ling  and  entertainment  of  the  Roy- 
al Library  of  the  Efcurial ;  yet  he  hath 
fo  lightly  pafled  over  this  fubje6l,  that 
though  we  did  not  efteem  it  as  good 
as  nothing,  yet  at  leaft  ought  it  not  to 
retard  the  happy  defigne  of  thofe  who 

would 


a  Library  3 

would  undertake  to  impart  fome  great- 
er light  and  dire<5lions  to  others,  upon 
hope,  that  if  they  fucceed  no  better,  the 
difficulty  of  the  Enterprife  will  not  ren- 
der them  lefle  excufable  then  him,  and 
exempt  from  all  fort  of  blame  and  re- 
proch. 

C,As  true  it  is,  that  it  is  not  every 
mans  Talent  to  acquit  himfelf  happily 
in  this  affair,  and  that  the  pains  and  the 
difficulty  which  there  is  in  acquiring  a 
fuperficial  knowledge  only  of  all  the 
Arts  and  Sciences,  to  deliver  ones  felf 
from  the  fervitude  &  flavery  of  certain 
opinions,  which  make  us  fpeak  &  gov- 
ern all  things  according  to  our  Fancy, 
and  to  judge  difcreetly,  and  without 
paffion,  of  the  merit  and  quality  of  Au- 
thors ;  are  difficulties  more  than  fuffi- 

cient 


4  Erecting  of 

cient  to  perfwade  us,  that  what  Jujtus 
Lipfius  elegantly  fpake,  and  much  to 
the  purpofe,  of  two  other  forts  of  per- 
fons,  may  be  truly  verified  of  a  Library- 
keeper:  Confulesfiunt  quotannis,&novi 
Proconfules :  Solus  aut  Rex  aut  Poeta 
non  quotannis  nafcitur. 
CL  And  if  I,  my  Lord,  affume  the  bold- 
neffe  to  prefent  you  thefe  Memoires  & 
Inftrudlions ;  it  is  not,  that  I  fo  much 
value  and  efteem  my  own  Judgment, 
as  to  interpofe  it  in  an  affair  of  fo  much 
difficulty ;  or  that  I  am  fo  far  tranfported 
with  felf-love  to  imagine  there  is  that 
in  me,  which  is  fo  rarely  to  be  encoun- 
tred  amongft  others :  But  the  great  af- 
fe<5lion  which  I  have  to  perform  a  thing 
which  may  be  acceptable  to  you,  is  the 
folecaufe  which  excites  me  to  joyn  the 


common 


a  Library 


common  fentiments  of  divers  perfons, 
Learned,  and  extreamly  verfed  in  the 
knowledge  of  Books,  &  the  feveral  ex- 
pedients pra6lifed  by  the  moft  famous 
Bibliothecaries,  to  that  which  the  little 
Induftry  &  Experience  I  have  my  felf 
obtained,  may  together  furnifh  me  with- 
all ;  that  I  may  with  this  Advice,  re- 
prefent  unto  you  the  Precepts  and  the 
means  on  which  it  is  neceflary  to  reg- 
ulate ones  felf,  and  attain  a  fortunate 
fuccefle  in  this  noble  and  generous  en- 
terprife. 

C[And  therefore,  my  Lord,  after  I  have 
made  it  my  moft  humble  requeft,  that 
you  would  rather  attribute  this  tedious 
difcourfe  to  the  candor  and  fincerity  of 
my  affeftion,  then  to  the  leaft  prefump- 
tion  of  being  capable  to  acquit  my  felf 

"of 


6  Erecting  of 

of  it  more  worthily  then  another;  I  (hall 
freely  tell  you,  that  unlefle  your  de- 
fignes  be  to  equall  the  Vatican  Library, 
or  the  Ambrofiane  of  Cardinal  Borro- 
meus,  you  have  already  fufficient  to  give 
your  minde  repofe,  to  be  fatisfied,  and 
contented  in  pofleffing  fuch  a  quantity 
of  Books,  and  fo  rarely  chofen,  that 
though  it  be  not  arrived  to  thofe  dimen- 
fions,  it  is  yet  more  than  fufficient,  not 
only  to  ferve  your  particular  content- 
ment, and  the  curiofity  of  your  Friends ; 
but  to  conferve  likewife  the  reputation 
of  being  one  of  the  moft  confiderable, 
and  beft  furnifhed  Libraries  of  France ; 
fince  you  there  enjoy  all  the  Principals 
in  the  chief  Faculties,  and  a  very  great 
number  of  others,  which  may  minifter 
to  the  various  rencontres  of  particular 

and 


a  Library  7 

and  lefs  obvious  fubje6ls.  But  if  your 
Ambition  be  to  render  your  name  il- 
luftrious  by  that  of  your  Bibliotheque, 
&  to  joyn  this  expedient  alfo  to  thofe 
which  on  all  occafions  you  praftife  by 
the  Eloquence  of  your  Difcourfes,  the 
Solidity  of  your  Judgment,  &  the  glory 
of  the  nobleft  Dignities  and  Magiftra- 
tures  which  you  have  fo  fuccefsfully 
borne,  to  render  an  eternal  Luftre  to 
your  Memory,  and  affure  you  whilft 
you  live,  that  you  may  with  eafe  difin- 
velopeyour  felf  from  the  innumerable 
volumes  and  Scrowles  of  Ages,  to  live 
and  be  famous  in  the  Memories  of  men ; 
it  will  then  be  needfull  to  augment,  and 
every  day  to  perfeft  what  you  have  fo 
happily  begun;  and  infenfibly  to  give 
fuch,  and  fo  advantageous  a  Progrefs  to 

your 


8  Erecting  of 


your  Library,  that  it  may  become  as 
unparallePd  as  your  felf,  without  equal ; 
and  as  fair,  perfe6t  and  accomplifh'd, 
as  it  can  be  made  by  the  Induftry  of 
thofe,  who  never  effe6l  any  thing  with- 
out fome  fpot  and  imperfe6lion.  Adeo 
nihil  eft  ab  omniparte  beatum. 


CHAP. 


a  Library 


CHAP.  I. 

One  ought  to  be  curious  in  ereSling  of 
Libraries,  and  why  ? 

ND  now,  my  Lord,  fmce  all  the 
difficulty  of  this  Defigne  confifts, 
in  that  (being  able  to  execute  it  with 
facility)  Tou  think  fit  to  undertake  it. 
It  will  be  requifite,  that,  before  we  arrive 
at  thofe  Precepts  which  may  ferve  to 
put  it  in  execution,  we  firft  deduce, 
&  explain  the  reafons  which  are  moft 
likely  to  perfwade  You,  that  it  is  to 
Your  advantage,  and  that  You  ought 
by  no  means  to  negleft  it.  For  not  to 
go  far  from  the  nature  of  this  Enter- 
prife,  common  fence  will  informe  us, 

that 


10         Erecting  of 

that  it  is  a  thing  altogether  laudable, 
generous,  and  worthy  of  a  courage 
which  breathes  nothing  but  Immortal- 
ity, to  draw  out  of  oblivion,  conferve,  & 
ere6l  (like  another  Pompey]  all  thefe 
Images,  not  of  the  Bodies,  but  of  the 
Minds  of  fo  many  gallant  men,  as  have 
neither  fpared  their  time,  nor  their  In- 
duftry,  to  tranfmit  to  us  the  moft  lively 
features  and  reprefentations  of  whatfo- 
ever  was  moft  excellent  &  confpicuous 
in  them.  And  this  is  alfo  a  thing  which 
the  younger  Pliny  (who  was  none  of 
the  leaft  ambitious  amongft  theRomans) 
would  feem  particularly  to  encourage 
us  in,  by  that  handfome  expreffion  in 
the  firft  of  his  Epiftles ;  Mihi  pulchrum 
in  primis  videtur,  non  pati  occidere  qui- 
bus  aternitas  debetur:  fince  this  curious 

paflage, 


a  Library  n 

paflage,  not  trivial  &  vulgar,  may  le- 
gitimately pafs  for  one  of  thofe  lucky 
prefages,  of  which  Cardan  fpeaks  in  his 
Chapter  de  Jignis  eximice  potentia;  for 
that  being  extraordinary,  difficult,  and 
of  great  expence,  it  can  no  wayes  be 
effe6led  without  giving  every  man  oc- 
cafion  to  fpeak  well  of  it,  and  with  Ad- 
miration, as  it  were,  of  him  who  puts 
it  in  Execution :  Exiftimatio  autem  & 
opinio  (fayes  the  fame  Author)  rerum 
humanarum  regince  funt.  And  in  ear- 
neft,  if  we  finde  it  not  ftrange  that  Deme- 
trius made  a  fhew  and  Parade  of  his  Ar- 
tillery, vaft  and  prodigious  Machines ; 
Alexander  the  Great  of  his  manner  of 
encamping;  the  Kings  of  JEgypt  of  their 
Pyramides;  nay  Solomon  of  his  Temple, 
and  others  of  the  like :  fince  Tiberius 

well 


12          Erecting  of 

well  obferves  it  in  Tacitus,  cateris  mor- 
talibus  in  eo  flare  con/ilia  quidjibi  con- 
ducere  putent,  principum  diverfam  ejje 
fortem,  quibus  omnia  ad  famam  diri- 
genda :  How  much  ought  we  then  to 
efteem  of  thofe,  who  have  never  fought 
after  thefe  fuperfluous  inventions,  and, 
for  the  moft  part,  unprofitable;  well 
judging  and  believing,  that  there  was 
no  expedient  more  honeft  and  affur'd, 
to  acquire  a  great  reputation  amongft 
the  people,  than  in  eredling  of  fair  & 
magnificent  Libraries,  to  devote  and 
confecrate  them  afterward  to  the  ufe 
of  the  Publick  ?  As  true  is  it,  that  this 
Enterprife  did  never  abufe  nor  deceive 
thofe  who  knew  how  to  manage  it  well, 
and  that  it  has  ever  been  judg'd  of  fuch 
confequence,  that  not  only  particular 

perfons 


a  Library  13 

perfons  have  made  it  fuccefleful  to  their 
own  advantage,  as  Richard de  Bury,  Bef- 
farion9  Vincentim  Pinelli,  Sirlettus,  Hen- 
ry de  Mefme  your  Grandfather  of  moft 
happy  memory,  the  Englifh  Knight 
Bodley,  the  late  Prefident  Thuanus,  and 
a  world  of  others ;  but  that  even  the  moft 
ambitious  would  ftill  make  ufe  of  this,  to 
crown  and  to  perfe6l  all  their  glorious 
atchievements,  as  with  the  Key-ftone  of 
the  Arch,  which  adds  luftre  &  ornament 
to  all  the  reft  of  the  Edifice.  And  I  pro- 
duce no  other  proofs  and  teftimonies  of 
what  I  fay,  than  thofe  great  Kings  of 
JEgypt,  &  ofPergamus,  Xerxes,  Auguf- 
tus,  Lucullus,  Charlemain,  Alphonfus  of 
Arragon,  Matth.  Corvinus,&  that  great 
Prince  Francis  the  Firft,  who  have  all 
of  them  had  a  particular  aflfe<5tion,  and 

fought 


14          Erecting  of 


fought  (amongft  the  almoft  infinite 
number  of  Monarchs  and  Potentates, 
which  have  alfo  pra<5lif  d  this  Strata- 
gem )  to  amafs  great  numbers  of  Books, 
and  ere<5l  moft  curious  and  well  fur- 
nifht  Libraries :  not  that  they  flood  in 
need  of  other  fubje6ls  of  recommenda- 
tion and  Fame,  as  having  acquired  fuffi- 
cient  by  the  Triumphs  of  their  great  & 
fignal  Vi6lories ;  but  becaufe  they  were 
not  ignorant,  that  thofe  perfons,  quibus 
fola  mentem  animofque  perurit  gloria, 
fhould  negleft  nothing  which  may  eaf- 
ily  elevate  them  to  the  fupream  and 
Sovereign  degree  of  efteem  &  reputa- 
tion. And  truly,  fhould  one  enquire  of 
Seneca,  what  are  to  be  the  a6lions  of 
thefe  gallant  and  puiflant  GeniuJ's, 
which  feem  not  to  have  been  fent  into 

the 


a  Library  15 

the  world  but  to  do  Miracles,  he  would 
certainly  anfwer  us9Neminemexcel/iin- 
genii  virum  humilia  deleStant  &fordida, 
magnarum  rerumjpedes  adje  vocal  & 
allicit.  And  therfore,  my  Lord,  it  feems 
very  much  to  the  purpofe,  fince  you 
govern  &  prefide  in  all  fignal  A6lions, 
that  you  never  content  your  felf  with  a 
Mediocrity  in  things  which  are  good  & 
laudable;  and  fince  you  have  nothing 
of  mean  &  vulgar,  that  you  fhould  alfo 
cherifh,  above  all  others,  the  honour 
and  reputation  of  poflefling  a  Biblio- 
theque,  the  moft  perfe6l,  the  beft  fur- 
nifh'd  and  maintained  of  your  time.  In 
fine,  if  thefe  Arguments  have  not  power 
fufficient  to  difpofe  you  to  this  Enter- 
prife,  I  am  at  leaft  perfwaded,  That  of 
your  particular  fatisfa<5tion  will  of  it  felf 

be 


16  Erecting  of 


be  fufficiently  capable  to  make  you  re- 
folve  upon  it :  For  if  it  be  poffible  in  this 
world  to  attain  any  fovereign  good,  any 
perfedl  and  accomplifht  felicity,  I  be- 
lieve that  there  were  certainly  none 
more  defireable  than  the  fruitful  enter- 
tainment, and  moft  agreeable  divertife- 
ment  which  might  be  receivedfrom  fuch 
a  Library  by  a  learned  man,  &  who  were 
not  fo  curious  in  having  Books,  ut  illi 
Jint  ccenationum  ornamenta,  quam  ut 
Jludiorum  injtrumenta,  fince  from  that 
alone  he  might  with  reafon  name  him- 
felf  Cofmopolitan,  or  Habitant  of  the 
Univerfe ;  that  he  might  know  all,  fee 
all,  &  be  ignorant  of  nothing.  Briefly, 
feeing  he  is  abfolute  Mafter  of  this  Con- 
tentment, that  he  might  manage  it  after 
his  own  fancie,  enjoy  it  when  he  would, 

quit 


a  Library  17 

quit  it  when  he  pleaf  'd,  entertain  him- 
felf  in  it  at  his  liberty ;  and  that  with- 
out contradi6lion,  without  travail,  and 
without  pains,  he  may  inftru6l  himfelf, 
and  learn  the  exa<5left  particulars 

Of  all  that  is,  that  was,  and  that  may  be 
In  Earth,  thefarthejl  Heavens,  and  the 
Sea.  \ 

I  fhall  only  adde  then,  for  the  refult  of 
all  thefe  reafons,  and  of  many  other; 
that  it  is  eafier  for  you  to  conceive,  than 
'tis  for  any  other  to  exprefle  it,  that  I 
pretend  not  hereby  to  engage  you  in  a 
fuperfluous  &  extraordinary  expence, 
as  being  not  at  all  of  their  opinion,  who 
think  Gold  and  Silver  the  principal 
nerves  of  a  Library,  and  who  perfwade 
themfelves,  (efteeming  Books  only  by 

the 


18 


Erecting  of 


the  price  they  coft)  that  there  is  nothing 
good  to  be  had  but  what  is  dearly  pur- 
chafed.  Yet,  neither  is  it  my  defigne 
to  perfwade  you,  that  fo  great  a  provi- 
fion  can  be  made  with  a  fhut  purfe,  and 
without  coft;  very  well  knowing  that 
the  faying  of  Plautus  is  as  true  on  this 
occafion,  as  in  many  others,  Necejfe  eft 
facere  fumptum  qui  qucerit  lucrum:  but 
to  let  you  fee  by  this  prefent  Difcourfe, 
that  there  are  an  infinity  of  other  expe- 
dients, which  a  man  may  make  ufe  of 
with  a  great  deal  more  facility  and  lefle 
expence,  to  attain  at  laft,the  fcope  which 
I  propofe  to  you. 


CHAP. 


a  Library  19 


CHAP.  II. 

How  to  inform  ones  J elf  \  and  what  we 

ought  to  know  concerning  the  eretf- 

ing  of  a  Library. 

A  MONGST  thefe  now,  my  Lord,  I 
y  \  conceive  there  are  none  more 
profitable  &  neceffary,  than  to  be  firft 
well  inftru6ted  ones  felf,  before  we  ad- 
vance on  this  enterprife,  concerning  the 
order,  and  the  method  which  we  ought 
precifely  to  obferve  to  accomplifh  its 
end.  And  this  may  be  eflfe6ted  by  two 
means,  fufficiently  eafie  &  fecure.  The 
Firft  is,  to  take  the  counfel  &  advice  of 
fuch  as  are  able  to  give  it,  concert  &  ani- 
mate us  viva  voce:  fuppofing  that  they 


are 


Erecting  of 


are  capable  to  do  it;  men  of  Letters, 
fober  and  judicious,  and  who  by  being 
thus  qualified,  are  able  to  fpeak  to  the 
purpofe,  difcourfe  &  reafon  well  upon 
every  fubje6l;  or  for  that  they  alfo  are 
purfuing  the  fame  Enterprife  with  the 
efteem  &  reputation  of  better  fuccefie, 
and  to  proceed  therein  with  more  in- 
duftry,  precaution,  and  judgment  than 
others  do ;  fuch  as  are  at  prefent  MM. 
de  Fontenay,  Hale,  du  Puis,  Rzber,  des 
Cordes,  and  Moreau,  whofe  examples 
one  cannot  erre  in  following;  fince 
according  to  the  faying  of  Pliny  the 
younger :  Stultiffimum  effet  ad  imitan- 
dum,  non  optima  quceque  Jibi  proponere: 
&  for  what  concerns  you  in  particular, 
the  variety  of  their  procedures  may 
continually  furnifh  you  with  fome  new 

addrefle 


a  Library  si 

addreffe  and  light,  which  will  not  be, 
perad venture,  unferviceable  to  the  pro- 
grefle  and  advancement  of  your  Li- 
brary ;  by  the  choice  of  good  Books, 
and  of  whatfoever  is  the  moft  curious 
in  every  one  of  theirs.  The  Second  is, 
to  confult,  &  diligently  to  colle6l  thofe 
few  Precepts  that  maybe  deduc'd  from 
the  Books  of  fome  Authors,  who  have 
written  but  fleightly  upon  this  matter ; 
as  for  inftance,  The  Counfel  of  Baptifta 
Cardonius9the  Philobiblion  ofRichardus 
de  Bury,  the  life  of  Vincentius  Pinelli, 
the  Books  of  PoJJevine,  de  cultura  inge- 
niorum,  of  that  which  Lipjius  has  made 
concerning  Libraries,  and  of  all  the 
feveral  Tables,  Indexes ,  and  Catalogues; 
and  govern  ones  felf  by  the  greateft 
&  moft  renowned  Bibliotheques  which 

were 


Erecting  of 


were  ever  ere<5led  :  fince  to  purfue  the 
advice  &  precept  of  Cardan,  His  max- 
ime  in  unaquaque  re  credendum  eft,  qui 
ultimum  de  fe  experimentum  dederint. 
In  order  to  this,  you  muft  by  no  means 
omit,  and  negle6l  to  caufe  to  be  tran- 
fcrib'd  all  the  Catalogues,  not  only  of 
the  great  and  moft  famous  Libraries, 
whether  ancient  or  modern,  publike  or 
private,  with  us,  or  amongft  ftrangers  ; 
but  alfoof  the  Studies  &  Cabinets,  which 
for  not  being  much  known,  or  vifited, 
remain  buried  in  perpetual  filence :  A 
thing  which  will  no  way  appear  ftrange, 
if  we  confider  four  or  five  principal  rea- 
fons,  which  have  caufed  me  to  eftablifh 
this  propofition.  The  firft  whereof  is, 
That  a  man  can  do  nothing  in  imitation 
of  other  Libraries,  unlefle  by  the  means 

"of 


a  Library  23 

of  their  Catalogues  he  have  knowledge 
of  what  they  contain.  The  fecond,  For 
that  they  are  abletoinftru&us  concern- 
ing the  Books  themfelves,the  place,  the 
time,  and  the  form  of  their  Impreffion. 
The  third,  Becaufe  that  a  minde  which 
is  generous  and  nobly  born,  fhould  have 
a  defire  and  an  ambition  to  aflemble,  as 
in  one  heap,  whatfoever  the  others  pof- 
fefle  in  particular,  ut  quce  divifa  beatos 
efficiunt,  infe  mixtafluant.  The  fourth, 
For  that  by  this  means,  one  may  fome- 
times  do  a  friend  fervice  and  pleafure ; 
and  when  we  cannot  furnifh  him  with 
the  Book  he  is  in  queft  of,  fhew  and 
dire<5l  him  to  the  place  where  he  may 
finde  fome  Copie,  a  thing  very  feafible 
by  the  afliftance  of  thefe  Catalogues. 
Finally,  Becaufe  it  is  altogether  impof- 

fible, 


24          Erecting  of 


fible,  that  we  fhould  by  our  own  induf- 
try,  learn,  and  know  the  qualities  of 
fo  vaft  a  number  of  Books,  as  it's  re- 
quifite  to  have,  it  is  not  without  rea- 
fon,  that  we  follow  the  judgments  of  the 
moft  intelligent  and  beft  verfed  in  this 
particular,  and  then  to  deduce  this  In- 
ference; Since  thefe  Books  have  been 
collected  and  purchaf  'd  by  fuch  and 
fuch,  there  is  reafon  to  believe,  they 
deferv'd  it  for  fome  circumftance  un- 
known to  us :  And  in  effe6l,  I  may  truly 
fay,  that  for  the  fpace  of  two  or  three 
years,  that  I  have  had  the  honour  to 
meet  fometimes  with  M.  de  F.  amongft 
the  Book-fellers,  I  have  frequently  feen 
him  buy  Books  fo  old,  ill  bound,  and 
wretchedly  printed,  that  I  could  not 
chufe,  but  fmile  and  wonder  together, 

till 


a  Library  25 

till  that  he  being  afterwards  pleaf  'd  to 
tell  me  the  caufe  and  the  circumftances 
for  which  he  purchaf  'd  them ;  his  rea- 
fons  feemed  to  be  fo  pertinent,  that  I 
fhall  never  otherwife  think,  but  that  he 
is  a  perfon  the  beft  verfed  in  the  know- 
ledge of  Books,  and  difcourfes  of  them 
with  more  experience  and  judgment, 
than  any  man  whatfoever,  not  only  in 
France,  but  in  all  the  world  befides. 


CHAP. 


26          Erecting  of 


CHAP.  III. 

The  Number  of  Books  which  are  requifite. 

THE  firft  Difficulty  having  been 
thus  deduced  &  explain'd,that 
which  ought  to  follow  and  approach  us 
neereft,  obliges  us  to  enquire,  if  it  be  to 
purpofe  to  make  any  great  provifion  of 
Books,  to  render  thereby  our  Library 
famous,  if  not  by  the  quality  of  them, 
yet  atleaft  by  the  unparalleFd  and  pro- 
digious quantity  of  its  Volumes  ?  For  it 
is  certainly  the  opinion  of  very  many, 
that  Books  are  like  to  the  Laws  &  Sen- 
tences of  the  Jurifconfults,  which  (as 
one  fayes )  aftimantur  pondere  &  quali- 
tate,  non  numero;  &  that  it  appertains 

to 


a  Library  27 

to  him  only,  to  difcourfe  handfomely 
upon  any  point  of  Learning,  who  is  leaft 
converfant  in  the  feveral  Readings  of 
thofe  Authors  which  have  written  upon 
it:  and  really,  it  feems  that  thofe  gal- 
lant Precepts,  &  Moral  Ad vertifements 
of  Seneca,  Paretur  Librorum  quantum 
fatis  ejt,nihil  in  apparatum:  Onerat  dif- 
centem  turba,non  inftruit,  multoque  fa- 
tius  eftpauciste  auSloribus  tradere;  quam 
err  are  per  multos.  Quum  legere  non  pof- 
Jis  quantum  habeas,  fat  eft  te  habere 
quantum  legas,  and  divers  other  like  it, 
which  he  gives  us  in  five  or  fix  places 
of  his  Works,  may  in  fome  meafure 
favour,  and  fortifie  this  opinion,  by  the 
authority  of  fo  great  a  Perfon :  But  if 
we  would  entirely  fubvert  it,  to  eftab- 
lifh  our  own  as  the  moft  probable,  we 

need 


28          Erecting  of 


need  only  fix  our  felves  upon  the  great 
difference  which  there  is  between  the 
Induftry  of  a  particular  man,  and  the 
Ambition  of  him  who  would  appear 
confpicuous  by  the  Fame  of  his  Biblio- 
theque :  or  'twixt  him  that  alone  defires 
to  fatisfie  himfelf,  &  him  that  only  feeks 
to  gratifie  and  oblige  thePublique.  For 
certain  it  is,  that  all  thefe  precedent 
reafons  point  only  to  the  Inftruftion  of 
thofe  who  would  judicioufly,  and  with 
order  &  method,  make  fome  progrefs 
in  the  Faculty  which  they  purfue;  or 
rather,  to  the  condemnation  of  thofe 
that  Ihewthemfelves  fufficiently  know- 
ing, &  pretend  to  great  abilities,  albeit 
they  no  more  difcern  this  vaft  heap  of 
Books,  which  they  have  already  aflem- 
bled,  then  did  thofe  crooked  perfons 

"(to 


a  Library  29 

(to  whom  King  Alphonfus  was  wont  to 
compare  them )  that  huge  bunch  which 
they  carried  behind  their  Back;  which 
is  really  very  feafonably  reproch'd  by 
Seneca,  in  the  places  before  alledged; 
&  in  plainer  terms  yet,  where  he  fayes, 
Quo  mihi  innumerabiles  libros  &Biblio- 
thecas,  quarum  dominus  vix  tola  vitajua 
indices  perlegit?  As  by  that  Epigram 
alfo  which  Aujonius  fo  handfomly  ad- 
dreffes  ad  Philomufum. 

Emptis  quod  libris  tibi  Bibliotheca  re- 

ferta  ejl, 
Dotfum  &  Grammaticum  te  Philo- 

mufe  putas? 
Hoc  genere  et  chordas,  et  ple£tra,et  bar- 

bita  conde, 
Omnia  mercatus,cras  Ciiharcedus  eris; 

That 


30          Erecting  of 


That  thou  with  Books  thy  Library  haft 

fill'd, 
Think'ft  thou  thy  felf  learn'd,  and  in 

Grammar  fkilPd? 
Then  ftor'd  with  Strings,  Lutes,  Fiddle- 

fticks  now  bought; 
To  morrow  thou  Mufitian  may'ft  be 

thought. 

<[But  you,  my  Lord,  who  have  the  re- 
putation of  knowing  more  then  can  be 
taught  you,  and  who  deprive  your  felf 
of  all  fort  of  contentments,  to  enjoy,  & 
plunge  your  felf,  as  it  were,  in  theplea- 
fure  which  you  take  in  courting  good 
Authors ;  to  you  it  is  that  it  properly  at- 
tains, to  poffefs  aBibliotheque,  themoft 
auguft,  and  ample,  that  hath  ever  been 
ere6ted:  to  the  end  it  may  never  be  faid 

hereafter, 


a  Library  31 

hereafter,  that  it  was  only  for  want  of  a 
little  care  which  you  might  have  had, 
that  you  did  not  beftowthis  Piece  upon 
the  Publique;  and  of  your  felf,  that  all 
the  a6lions  of  your  life  had  not  furpaffed 
the  moft  heroick  exploits  of  the  moft 
illuftrious  perfons.  And  therefore  I 
fhall  ever  think  itextreamly  neceffary, 
to  colle6l  for  this  purpofe  all  forts  of 
Books,  (under  fuch  precautions, yet,  as 
I  fhall  eftablifh)  feeing  a  Library  which 
is  ere<5led  for  the  publick  benefit  ought 
to  be  univerfal,  but  which  it  can  never 
be,  unleffe  it  comprehend  all  the  prin- 
cipal Authors  that  have  written  upon  the 
great  diverfity  of  particular  Subjects,  & 
chiefly  upon  all  the  Arts  &  Sciences ;  of 
which,  if  one  had  but  confidered  the  vaft 
numbers  which  are  in  the  Panepiftemon 

of 


Erecting  of 


ofAngelus  Politianus9or  in  any  other  ex- 
a6l  Catalogue  lately  compiled :  I  do  not 
at  all  doubt,  but  that  you  will  be  ready 
to  judge  by  the  huge  quantity  of  Books 
( which  we  ordinarily  meet  with  in  Li- 
braries )  in  ten  or  twelve  of  them,  what 
number  you  ought  to  provide,  to  fatif- 
fie  the  curiofity  of  the  Readers  upon 
all  that  remains.  And  therefore  I  do 
nothing  wonder,  that  Ptolemy  King  of 
JEgypt  did  not  for  this  purpofe  colle6l 
one  hundred  thoufand  Volumes,  as  Ce- 
drenus  will  have  it ;  not  four  hundred 
thoufand,  as  Seneca  reports ;  not  five 
hundred  thoufand  as  Jojephus  afiures 
us ;  but  feven  hundred  thoufand,  as  wit- 
nefle,  &  accord,  Aulus  Gellius,  Ammia- 
nus  Marcellinus,  Sabellicus  Volaterran. 
Or  that  Eumenes  the  fon  of  Attains  had 

collected 


a  Library  33 

collected  two  hundred  thoufand;  Con- 
ftantine  a  hundred  and  twenty  thou- 
fand :  Sammonicus  ( Preceptor  to  the 
Emperour  Gordian  the  younger  )fixty 
two  thoufand.  Epaphroditus,  a  fimple 
Grammarian  only,  thirty  thoufand.  And 
that  Richard  of  Bury,  Monjieur  de  Thou, 
and  Sir  Tho.  Bodley  have  made  fo  rare 
a  pro vifion,  that  the  Catalogues  only  of 
either  of  their  Libraries  do  amount  to  a 
juft  Volume.  For  certainly  there  is  no- 
thing which  renders  a  Library  more  re- 
commendable,  then  when  every  man 
findes  in  it  that  which  he  is  in  fearch  of, 
and  could  no  where  elfe  encounter ;  this 
being  a  perfect  Maxime,  That  there  is 
no  Book  whatfoever,  be  it  never  fo  bad 
or  decried,  but  may  in  time  be  fought  for 
by  fome  perfon  or  other;  fince  accord- 
ing 


34          Erecting  of 


t 


ing  to  that  of  the  Satyrift, 

Mille  hominumfpecies,  &  rerum  dif color 

ujus, 
Vellefuumcuiqueeft>nec  voto  vivitur  uno. 

And  that  it  is  commonly  amongft  Read- 
ers as  it  was  with  Horace's  three  Guefts, 

Pofcentes  vario  nimium  diverf a  potato. 

There  being  no  better  refemblance  of 
Libraries,  then  to  the  Meadow  of  Sen- 
eca, where  every  living  creature  findes 
that  which  is  moft  proper  for  them : 
Bosherbam,  Cants  leporem,  Ciconia  lacer- 
tuih.  And  befides,  we  are  to  believe,  that 
every  man  who  feeks  for  a  Book,  judges 
it  to  be  good ;  and  conceiving  it  to  be  fo, 
without  finding  it,  is  forced  toefteem  it 
curious  and  very  rare ;  fo  that  coming 

at 


a  Library  35 

at  laft  to  encounter  it  in  fome  Library, 
he  eafily  thinks,  that  the  Owner  of  it 
knew  it  as  well  as  himfelf :  and  that  he 
bought  it  upon  the  fame  account  that 
excited  him  to  fearch  after  it ;  and  in 
purfuit  of  this,  conceives  an  incompar- 
able efteem  both  of  the  Owner,  and  of 
the  Library ;  which  coming  afterwards 
to  be  publifhed,  there  will  be  need  but  of 
few  like  encounters,  joyn'd  to  the  com- 
mon opinion  of  the  Vulgar,  Cui  magna 
pro  bonisfunt,  to  fatisfie  &  recompence 
a  man  that  accounts  it  never  fo  little 
honour  and  glory  in  all  his  expences  & 
pains.  Andbefides,fhould  one  enter  into 
the  confideration  of  times,  of  places,  & 
new  inventions,  no  man  of  Judgement 
can  doubt,  but  that  it  is  much  eafier  at 
prefent,to  procure  thoufands  of  Books, 

then 


36         Erecting  of 


then  it  was  for  the  Antients  to  get  hun- 
dreds ;  and  that  by  confequent,  it  would 
be  an  eternal  fhame  and  reproch  in  us, 
to  come  beneath  them  in  this  particular, 
which  we  may  furmount  with  fo  much 
advantage  and  facility.  Finally,  as  the 
quality  of  Books  does  extreamly  aug- 
ment the  efteem  of  a  Library  amongft 
thofe  who  have  the  means,  and  the  lea- 
fure  tounderftand  it;  fo  muftit  needs  be 
acknowledged,  that  the  fole  quantity  of 
them  brings  it  into  luftre,  &  reputation, 
as  well  amongft  Strangers  and  Travel- 
lers, as  amongft  many  others,  who  have 
neither  the  time,  nor  the  conveniencyof 
exa<5lly  turningthem  over  in  particular ; 
as  may  eafily  be  judged  by  the  prodi- 
gious number  of  Volumes,  that  there 
muft  needs  be  an  infinity  of  good  ones, 

fignal, 


a  Library  37 

fignal,  and  remarkable.  Howbeit,  nei- 
ther to  abandon  this  infinite  quantity 
without  a  definition,  nor  to  put  thofe 
that  are  curious  out  of  hopes  of  being 
able  to  accomplifh,  and  finifh  fo  fair  an 
enterprife ;  it  would,  me  thinks,  be  very 
expedient  to  do  like  thofe  Phyfitians, 
who  prefcribe  the  quantity  of  Drugs  ac- 
cording to  their  qualities ;  &  to  affirm, 
that  a  man  can  never  fail  in  collecting 
all  thofe  which  fhall  have  the  qualities 
&  conditions  requifite  &  fit  to  be  placed 
in  a  Library.  Which  that  you  may  dif- 
cern,  one  muft  be  carefull  to  take  with 
him  divers  Theorems,  and  precautions; 
which  may  with  more  facility  be  re- 
duc'd  to  practice  as  opportunity  hap- 
pens, by  thofe  who  have  the  routine,  & 
are  verf  'd  in  Books,  and  who  judge  of 

aft 


38          Erecting  of 


all  things  maturely  &  without  paffion, 
then  poffibly  be  deduced,  and  couch'd 
in  writing,  feeing  they  are  almoft  infi- 
nite ;  and  that,  to  fpeak  ingenuoufly, 
fome  of  them  combat  the  mod  vulgar 
opinions,  and  maintain  Paradoxes. 


CHAP. 


a  Library  39 


CHAP.  IV. 

Of  what  Quality  and  Condition  Books 
ought  to  be. 

I  WILL  now  fay  notwithftanding, 
that  to  omit  nothing  which  may 
ferve  us  for  a  Guide,  &  in  this  Difqui- 
fition,  that  the  prime  Rule  which  one 
ought  to  obferve,  is,  in  the  firft  place 
to  furnifh  a  Library  with  all  the  chief 
&  principal  Authors,  as  well  antient  as 
modern,  chofen  of  the  beft  Editions,  in 
grofs,or  in  parcels,  &  accompanied  with 
their  moft  learned,  &  beft  Interpreters, 
&  Commentators,  which  are  to  be  found 
in  every  Facultie ;  not  forgeting  thofe 
which  are  lefle  vulgar,  and  by  confe- 

quent 


40          Erecting  of 


quent  more  curious :  As  for  Example, 
with  the  feveral  Bibles,  the  Fathers,  & 
the  Councels,  for  the  grofs  of  Theology  : 
with  Lyra,  Hugo,  Toftatus,  Salmeron,  for 
the  poiitive:  with  S.  Thomas,  Occhus, 
Durandus,  Peter  Lombard,  Henricus 
Magnus,  Alexander  of  Hales,  JEgidius 
Romanus,  Albertus  magnus,  Aureolus, 
Burleus,  Capreolus,  Major,  Vafques,  Sua- 
rez,  for  the  Scholiaftick:  with  the  Body 
of  the  Courts  Civil  and  Canon  Laws ; 
with  Baldus,  Bartholus,  Cujas,  Alciat, 
du  Moulin  for  the  Law :  with  Hippoc- 
rates, Galen,  Paulus  Mginetus,  Oriba- 
Jius,  TEtius,  Trallian,Avicen,  Avenzoar, 
Fernelius,  for  Phyfick :  Ptolomy,  Firmi- 
cus,  Holy,  Cardan,  Stoflerus,  Gauricus, 
JunStinus,  for  Aftrologie :  Halhazen, 
Vitellio,  Bacon,  Aguillonius,  for  the 

Opticks : 


a  Library  41 

Opticks:  Diophantes,  Boetius,  Jordan, 
Tartaglia,  Silifcus,  Lucus  de  Burgo, 
Villefranc  for  Arithmetick :  Artemido- 
rus,  Apomazar,  Sinejius,  Cardonius,  for 
Dreams :  And  fo  with  all  the  other, 
which  it  would  be  too  long,  and  trou- 
blefome,  to  fpecifie  and  enumerate  pre- 
cifely. 

Cjn  the  fecond  place;  To  procure  all 
the  old  and  new  Authors  that  are  wor- 
thy of  confideration,  in  their  proper  Lan- 
guages, and  particular  Idioms :  The  Bi- 
bles and  Rabbies  in  Hebrew;  the  Fathers 
in  Greek  &  Latine ;  Avicenne  in  Arabick ; 
Bocacio,  Dantes,  Petrarch,  in  Italian ; 
together  with  their  beft  Verfions,Ldtfm£, 
French,  or  fuch  as  are  to  be  found : 
Thefe  laft  being  for  the  ufe  of  many 
perfons  who  have  not  the  knowledge  of 

forrein 


42          Erecting  of 


forrein  Tongues;  &the  former,  for  that 
it  is  very  expedient  to  have  the  fources 
whence  fo  many  ftreams  do  glide  in 
their  natural  chanels  without  art  or  dif- 
guife;  and  that  we  ordinarily  meet  with 
a  more  certain  efficacy,  and  richnefs  of 
conception,  in  thofe  that  cannot  retain 
&  conferve  their  luftre  fave  in  their  na- 
tive languages,  as  Pictures  do  their  col- 
ours in  proper  lights :  not  to  fpeak  of 
the  neceffity  alfo  which  one  may  have 
for  the  verification  of  Texts  &  paflages 
ordinarily  controverted,  or  dubious. 
C.  Thirdly,  Such  Authors  as  have  beft 
handled  the  parts  of  any  Science  or  Fac- 
ulty, whatever  it  be :  As  Bellarmine  for 
Controverfies,  Tolet,  and  Navarr9Ca£es 
of  Confcience,  Vejalius  Anatomie,  Afdtf- 
thiolus  the  Hiftory  of  Plants,  Gefner  & 


Aldrovandus 


a  Library  43 

Aldrovandus  that  of  Animals,  Rondole- 
tius  and  Salvianus  that  of  Fifties,  Vico- 
mercatus  that  of  Meteors,  &c. 
C.  In  the  fourth  place,  All  thofe  that 
have  heft  commented,  or  explained  any 
Author  or  Book  in  particular;  as  Pere- 
rius  upon  Genejis;  Villalpandus,  Eze- 
chiel;  Maldonat,  the  Gofpels;  Monlorius 
and  Zabarella  the  Analyticks;  Scaliger, 
Theophrq/tusHiRoYy of  Plants;  Proclus, 
&  Marfilius  Ficinus  upon  Plato ;  Alex- 
ander, &  Themiftius  upon  Arijtotle;  Flu- 
rancius  Rivaultius,  Archimedes;  Theon 
and  Campanus9Euclide;  Cardan,  Ptolo- 
mie :  And  this  fhould  be  obferved  in  all 
forts  of  Books  and  Treatifes,  antient  or 
modern,  who  have  met  with  Commen- 
tators and  Interpreters. 
f^Next,  all  that  have  written  &  made 

Books 


44          Erecting  of 


Books  and  Trails  upon  any  particular 
fubjeft ;  be  it  concerning  the  Species  or 
Individuals,^  Sanchez,  whohath  amply 
treateddematrimonio:  SainStes  &  Perron 
of  the  Euchari/t;  Gilbertus  of  theLoad- 
ftone ;  Maier,  de  volucri  arborea ;  Scortia, 
Vendelinus,  and  Nugarola  concerning 
the  Nile :  the  fame  to  be  underftood  of 
all  forts  of  particular  Treatifes  in  mat- 
ter of  Law,  Divinity,  Hiftory,  Medicine, 
and  what  ever  elfe  there  may  be :  with 
this  difcretion  neverthelefle,  that  he 
which  moft  approches  to  the  profeffion 
which  he  purfues,  be  preferred  before 
any  other. 

^Moreover,  All  fuch  as  have  written 
moftfucceffefully  aga.mfta.ny  Science,  or 
that  have  oppof  'd  it  with  moft  Learning 
and  animofity  ( howbeit  without  chang- 
ing 


Library 


45 


ing  the  principles )  againft  the  Books  of 
fome  of  the  moft  famous  and  renowned 
Authors.  And  therefore  one  muft  not 
forget  Sextus  Empiricus,  Sanchez,  and 
Agrippa,  who  have  profeffedly  endeav- 
oured to  fubvert  all  the  Sciences:  Pi- 
cus  Mirandula,  who  has  fo  learnedly  re- 
futed the  Aftrologers  :  Eugubinus,  that 
has  dafhed  the  impiety  of  the  Salmones, 
&  irreligious :  Morifotus,  that  has  over- 
thrown the  abufe  of  Chymifts :  Scaliger, 
who  has  fo  fortunately  oppof 'd  Cardan, 
as  that  he  is  at  prefent  in  fome  part  of 
Germany  more  followed  then  Anftotle 
himfelf :  Cafaubon,who  durft  attaque  the 
Annals  of  that  great  Cardinal  Baronius : 
ArgenteriuSy  who  hath  taken  Galen  to 
tafke :  Thomas  Erq/lus,  who  has  fo  per- 
tinently refuted  Paracelfus :  Carpenter, 

who 


46          Erecting  of 


who  has  fo  rigoroufly  oppof  'd  Ramus: 
and  finally,  all  thofe  that  haveexercif 'd 
themfelves  in  the  like  confli<5ls,  &  that 
are  folinkttogether,  that  it  were  as  great 
an  error  to  read  them  feparately,  as  to 
judge  and  underftand  one  party  without 
the  other,  or  one  Contrary  without  his 
Antagonift. 

'{[.Neither  are  you  to  omit  all  thofe 
which  have  innovated  or  chang'd  any 
thing  in  the  Sciences;  for  it  is  properly 
to  flatter  the  flavery,  and  imbecillity  of 
our  wit,  to  conceal  the  fmall  knowledge 
which  we  have  of  thefe  Authors,  under 
the  difdain  which  we  ought  to  have,  be- 
caufe  they  oppofe  the  Antients,  and  for 
that  they  have  learnedly  examined  what 
others  were  ufed  to  receive,  as  by  Tra- 
dition :  And  therefore,  feeing  of  late 

more 


a  Library  47 

more  than  thirty  or  fourty  Authors  of 
reputation  have  declared  themfelves 
againft  Ariftotle;  that  Copernicus,  Kep- 
ler, Galiltfus,  have  quite  altered  Aftron- 
omie ;  Paracelfus,  Severinus  the  Dane, 
Du  Chefne,  &  Crollius,  Phyfick :  &  that 
divers  others  have  introduced  new  Prin- 
ciples, and  have  eftablifhed  ftrange  & 
unheard  of  Ratiocination  upon  them,  & 
fuch  as  were  never  forefeen  :  I  affirm, 
that  all  thefe  Authors  are  very  requi- 
fite  in  a  Library,  fince  according  to  the 
common  Saying, 

Eft  quoque  cunStarum   novitas  gratif- 
fima  rerum; 

and  (not  to  infift  upon  fo  weak  a  rea- 
fon)  that  it  is  certain,  the  knowledge  of 
thefe  Books  is  fo  expedient,  &  frugifer- 


ous 


48          Erecting  of 


ous  to  him  who  knows  how  to  make 
reflection,  and  draw  profit  from  all  that 
he  fees,  that  it  will  furnifh  him  with  a 
million  of  ad  vantages,  and  new  concep- 
tions ;  which  being  received  in  a  fpirit 
that  is  docile,  univerfal,  and  difingag'd 
from  all  interefts, 

NulliiisaddiStusjurare  in  verba  Magiftri, 

they  make  him  fpeak  to  the  purpofe 
upon  all  fubje<5ls,  cure  the  admiration 
which  is  a  perfe6l  figne  of  our  weak- 
neffe,  &  enables  one  to  difcourfe  upon 
whatfoever  prefents  it  felf  with  a  great 
deal  more  judgment,  experience,  and 
refolution,  then  ordinarily  many  per- 
fons  of  letters  and  merit  are  ufed  to  do. 
C.One  fhould  like  wife  have  thisconfid- 
eration  in  the  choice  of  Books,  to  fee 


whether 


a  Library  49 

whether  they  be  the  firft  that  have  been 
compofed  upon  the  matter  on  which 
they  treat.  Since  'tis  with  mens  Learn- 
ing, as  with  water,  which  is  never  more 
fair,  pure,  and  limpid,  then  at  its  fource; 
All  the  Invention  comeing  from  the 
Firft,  and  the  Imitation  with  repetition 
from  others:  as  'tis  eafy  to  perceive  that 
Reuchlin  who  firft  writ  of  the  Hebrew 
Tongue,  and  the  Cabal ;  Budeus  of  the 
Greek,  and  of  Coyns;  Bodinus  of  a  Re- 
publique ;  Codes  of  Phyfiognomie ;  Pe- 
ter Lombard,  S.  Thomas,  of  Scholaftical 
Divinity,  have  done  better  than  thofe 
many  others,  which  ingag'd  themfelves 
in  writing  fince  them. 
{£  Moreover  ought  one  alfo  to  take  no- 
tice, whether  the  Subje6ls  of  which  they 
treat  be  trifling  or  lefs  vulgar ;  curious  or 

negligent; 


50         Erecting  of 


negligent ;  fpinie  or  facil ;  feeing  what 
we  ufed  to  fay  of  all  things  elfe  that  be 
not  common,  may  be  fo  appofitely  ap- 
ply ed  to  curious  new  Books; 

Rara  juvant,  primisjic  major  gratia  po- 

mis, 
Hibernce  pretiumfic  meruere  rofce. 

CL  Under  the  notion  then  of  this  pre- 
cept we  (hould  open  our  Libraries,  and 
receive  them  therein,  who  firft  wrote  of 
Subje6ls  the  leaft  known,  and  that  have 
not  been  treated  of  before,  unlefs  in 
Fragments,  and  very  imperfe6lly;  as 
Licetus,  who  hath  written  defpontaneo 
viventium  ortu,  de  lucernis  antiquorum ; 
Tagliacotius,  how  to  repair  a  decayed 
Nofe ;  Libavius  &  Goclinus  of  the  Mag- 
netickOyntment ;  Secondly,  All  curious 

and 


a  Library  51 

and  not  vulgar  Authors ;  fuch  as  are  the 
books  of  Cardan,  Pomponacius,  Brunus, 
and  all  thofe  who  write  concerning  the 
Caball,  Artificial  Memory,  the  Lullian 
Art, the  Philofophers  Stone,  Divinations, 
and  the  like  matters.  For,  though  the 
greateft  part  of  them  teach  nothing  but 
vain  and  unprofitable  things,  and  that  I 
hold  them  but  as  Humbling  blocks  to 
all  thofe  who  amufe  themfelves  upon 
them,  yet  not withftanding  that  one  may 
have  wherwithalto  content  the  weaker 
wits,  as  well  as  the  ftrong;  and  at  the 
leaft  fatisfie  thofe  who  defire  to  fee  them, 
to  refute  them,  one  fhould  colle6l  thofe 
which  have  treated  on  them,  albeit  they 
ought  to  be  accounted  amongft  the  reft 
of  the  Books  in  the  Library,  but  as  Ser- 
pents and  Vipers  are  amongft  other  liv- 
ing 


52          Erecting  of 


ing  Creatures;  like  Cockle  in  a  Field 
of  good  wheat;  like  Thorns  amongft 
the  Rofes:  and  all  this  in  imitation  of 
the  world,  where  thefe  unprofitable 
and  dangerous  things  accomplifh  the 
Mafter-piece,  and  the  Fabrick  of  that 
goodly  compofition. 
<L  And  this  Maxime  fhould  lead  us  to 
another  of  no  lefs  confequence,  which 
is,  not  to  negle6t  the  works  of  the  prin- 
cipal Herejiarchs  or  Fautors  of  new  Re- 
ligions different  from  ours,  more  com- 
mon, &  revered,  as  more  juft  &  veritable: 
For  it  is  very  likely,  fince  the  firft  of 
them,  (not  to  fpeak  of  the  new  ones) 
have  been  chofen,  and  drawn  out  from 
amongft  the  moft  learned  perfonages  of 
the  precedent  Age,  who  by  I  know  not 
what  Fancie,  and  exceffi ve  love  to  nov- 
elty, 


a  Library  53 

elty,  did  quit  their  Cafjbcks,  &  the  Ban- 
ner of  the  Church,  to  enroll  themfelves 
under  that  of  Luther  and  Calvine;  and 
that  thofe  of  the  prefent  time  are  not 
admitted  to  the  exercife  of  their  Minif- 
try  till  after  a  long  and  fevere  Examen 
in  the  three  Tongues  of  the  Holy  Scrip- 
ture, and  the  chief  points  of  Philofophy 
and  Divinity:  There  is  a  great  deal  of 
likelihood,  I  fay,  that  excepting  the 
paflages  controverted,  they  may  fome- 
times  hit  very  luckily  upon  others,  as 
in  many  indifferent  Treatifes  they  have 
done,  on  which  they  often  travail  with 
a  great  deal  of  Induftry  and  Felicity. 
And  therefore,  fmce  it  is  neceflary  that 
our  Do6lors  fhould  finde  them  in  fome 
places  to  refute  them;  fmce  M.  de  T. 
has  made  it  no  difficulty  to  colle6l  them; 

that 


54          Erecting  of 


that  the  antient  Fathers  &  Do6lors  had 
them,  that  divers  religious  perfons  pre- 
ferved  them  in  their  Libraries;  that  we 
make  it  no  Scruple  to  have  a  Thalmud 
or  an  Alcoran,  which  belch  a  thoufand 
Blafphemies  againft  Jefus  Chrift,  and 
our  Religion,  infinitely  more  danger- 
ous than  thefe :  that  God  permits  us  to 
make  profit  of  our  enemies,  and  ac- 
cording to  that  of  the  P£almift,Salutem 
ex  inimicis  no/Iris,  &demanu  omnium  qui 
oderunt  nos;  that  they  are  prejudicial 
but  to  them  onely,  who  deftitute  of  a 
right  condu<5l,  fuffer  themfelves  to  be 
tranfported  with  the  firft  puff  of  wind 
that  blows. 

CAnd  to  conclude  in  a  word,  fince  the 
intention  which  determines  all  our  ac- 
tions to  good  or  evil,  is  neither  vitious 

nor 


a  Library  55 

nor  cauterifed,  I  conceive  it  no  extrav- 
agance or  danger  at  all,  to  have  in  a  Li- 
brary (under  caution  neverthelefs  of  a 
licenfe  &  permiffion  from  thofeto  whom 
it  appertains )  all  the  Works  of  the  moft 
learned  and  famous  Hereticks,  fuch  as 
have  been, — and  divers  others  of  lefler 
confequence,  Quos  fama  obfcura  recon- 
dit. 

C.This  alfo  ought  to  be  retained  as  a 
Maxime,  that  all  the  bodies  and  aflfem- 
blies  of  feveral  Authours  writing  upon 
the  fame  fubje<5l;  fuch  as  are  the  Thai- 
mud,  the  Councels,  the  Biblotheques  of 
the  Fathers,  Thefaurus  Criticus,  Scrip- 
tores  Germanici,  Turcici,  Hifpanici,  Gal- 
lid,  Catalogus  teftium  veritatis,  Monar- 
chia  Imperil,  Opus  magnum  de  Balneis, 
Authores  Gyneciorum,  De  Morbo  Nea- 

politano, 


56          Erecting  of 


politano,  Rhetores  antiqui,  Grammatici 
Veteres9  Oratores  Grcecice,  Flores  DoSto- 
rum,  Corpus  Poetarum,  and  all  thofe 
which  contain  fuch  like  Collections, 
ought  of  neceffity  to  be  put  into  Libra- 
ries ;  forafmuch  as  they  fave  us,  firft  of 
all,  the  labour  of  fearching  an  infinity  of 
Books  extreamly  curious  and  rare:  and 
fecondly,  becaufe  they  fpare  abundance 
pf  other,  and  make  room  in  a  Library. 
Thirdly,  for  that  they  handfomly  com- 
prehend in  one  Volume,  what  wefhould 
be  otherwife  long  in  fearching  with  a 
great  deal  of  pains,  &  in  divers  places ; 
and  finally,  becaufe  they  are  lefs  expen- 
five,  they  being  nothing  fo  chargeable 
to  purchafe  as  they  would  be,fhould  one 
buy  feparately  all  the  Authours  which 
they  contain.  I  hold  it  alfo  for  a  tenent 


as 


a  Library  57 

as  neceffary  as  any  of  the  precedent, 
that  one  Ihould  draw  out  &  make  elec- 
tion from  amongft  the  great  number 
of  thofe  who  have  written,  &  do  daily 
write,  thofe  who  appear  as  an  Eagle  in 
the  Clouds,  and  as  a  Star  twinkling  and 
moft  refulgent  in  the  midftof  obfcurity; 
I  mean  thofe  great  Witts,  which  are  not 
of  the  common  alloy ; 

Quorumque  ex  ore  prof  ufo 
Omnis  pojteritas  latices  in  dogmata  duett; 

C,  And  of  whom  one  may  make  ufe,  as 
of  Matters  the  moft  expert  in  the  know- 
ledge of  all  things,  and  of  their  works 
as  of  a  Seminarie,  perfe6lly  fufficient  to 
enrich  a  Library  not  onely  with  all  their 
Books,  but  even  of  the  leaft  of  their 
Fragments,  Papers  9looje  Sheets,  and  the 

very 


38          Erecting  of 

very  words  which  efcape  them.  For  as 
it  would  be  amifs  to  employ  the  place  & 
the  money  in  amaffing  all  the  world,  & 
I  know  not  what  gallimauphry  of  cer- 
tain vulgar  and  defpicable  Authours;  fo 
would  it  be  a  notorious  oblivion,  &  fault 
unexcufable  in  thofewho  make  profef- 
fion  of  having  all  the  beft  Books,  to 
negle6l  any  of  Them;  for  example,  of 
Erafmus,  Chiaconus,  Onuphrius,  Turne- 
bus,  Lipjius,  Genebrard,  Antonius  Au- 
gu/tinus,  Cafaubon,  Salmafius,  Bodinus, 
Cardan,  Patricius,  Scaliger,  Mercurialis, 
&  others,  whofe  works  we  are  to  wink 
&  take,  &  without  choice;  carefull,  that 
we  be  not  cheated  in  Books  rampant, 
with  Authours  infinitely  more  rude  and 
grofs:  iince,  as  one  cannot  poflefs  too 
much  of  that  which  is  good,  and  exqui- 

fitely 


a  Library  59 

fitely  chofen;  fo  neither  can  one  have  too 
little  of  that  which  is  bad,  &  of  which  we 
have  no  hopes  of  receiving  any  profit  or 
utility. 

C,  Neither  muft  you  forget  all  forts  of 
Common  places,  Dictionaries,  Mixtures, 
feveral  LeStions,  Collections  of  Sentences, 
and  other  like  Repertories;  feeing  it  is  as 
fo  much  way  gone,  and  Matter  ready 
prepared  for  thofe  who  have  the  induf- 
try  to  ufe  them  with  due  advantage ;  it 
being  certain,  that  there  are  many  who 
fpeak  and  write  wonderfull  well,  who 
have  yet  feen  but  very  few  Volumes, 
befides  thofe  which  I  have  mentioned ; 
whence  it  is,  that  they  commonly  fay, 
the  Calepine,  which  they  take  for  all 
kind  of  Dictionaries,  is  the  livelyhood 
of  the  Regents;  And  if  I  fhould  affirm  it 

"of 


so         Erecting  of 


of  many,  even  amongft  the  moft  famous 
perfons,  it  would  not  be  without  reafon, 
fince  one  of  the  moft  renound  amongft 
the  laft  had  above  fifty  of  them,  which 
he  perpetually  ftudied;  and  who  having 
encountred  a  difficult  word  at  the  firft 
offering  of  the  Book  of  Equivocals,  as  it 
was  prefented  to  him,  he  had  recourfe 
immediately  to  one  of  thefe  DiStionaries, 
and  tranfcribed  out  of  it  above  a  page  of 
writing,  upon  the  margent  of  the  faid 
Book,  and  that  in  prefence  of  a  certain 
Friend  of  mine  and  of  his;  to  whom  he 
could  not  abftainfrom  fay  ing,  that  thofe 
who  fhould  fee  this  remark,  would  eaf- 
ily  believe  that  he  had  fpent  above  two 
dayes  in  compofingit;  though  he  had  in 
truth  butthe  pains  onely  of  tranfcribing 
it:  And  in  earneft,  for  my  part,  I  efteem 

thefe 


a  Library  6l 

thefe  Colle6lions  extreamly  profitable 
and  neceflary,  confidering,  the  brevity 
of  our  life,  and  the  multitude  of  things 
which  we  are  now  obliged  to  know,  e're 
one  can  be  reckoned  amongft  the  num- 
ber of  learned  men,  do  not  permit  us  to 
do  all  of  ourfelves;  befides,  feeing  it  is 
not  granted  every  man,  nor  in  all  ages, 
to  have  the  means  to  labour  at  his  own 
coft  and  charges,  and  without  borrow- 
ing from  others,  what  ill  is  there  in  it,  I 
pray,  if  thofe  who  are  fo  induftrious  to 
imitate  nature,  and  fo  to  diverfifie  and 
appropriate  to  their  fubje6l  what  they 
extra<5l  from  others,  ut  etiam,Ji  apparu- 
erit  unde  fumptum  Jit,  alind  tamen  efje 
quam  unde  fumptum  eft  appareat,  do 
make  bold  with  thofe  who  feem  not  to 
have  been  made  but  to  lend,  and  draw 

out 


62          Erecting  of 


out  from  the  Refer  vatories  &  Magazines 
which  are  deftin'd  for  this  purpofe :  fince 
we  ordinarily  fee  that  both  Painters  & 
Architects,  make  excellent  and  incom- 
parable pieces  by  the  affiftance  of  Col- 
ours and  Materials  which  others  grinde 
and  prepare  for  them. 
C,Laftly,  we  fhould  upon  this  occafion 
reduce  to  pra6lice  that  fame  Aphorifme 
of  Hippocrates,  which  advertifes  us  to 
yield  fomething  to  time,  to  place,  &  to 
cuftom  ;  that  is  to  fay,  that  fome  kinde 
of  Books  be  fometimes  in  vogue  &  re- 
putation in  one  Countrey,  and  not  fo  in 
another;  and  in  the  prefent  age,  which 
were  not  in  the  paft:  it  is  more  expedi- 
ent to  make  a  good  provifion  of  thefe, 
than  of  the  other;  or  at  leaft  to  have  fuch 
a  quantity  of  them,  as  may  teftifie  we 

comply 


a  Library  63 

comply  with  the  times,  and  that  we  are 
not  ignorant  of  the  mode  and  inclina- 
tion of  men :  And  hence  it  proceeds,  that 
we  frequently  find  in  the  Libraries  of 
Rome, Naples,  and  Florence,  abundance 
ofPofitive  Theologifts;  in  thofe  of  Milan 
and  Pavia  ftore  of  Civil  Law;  in  thofe 
of  Spain,  and  antientones  of  Cambridge 
and  Oxford  in  England,  a  number  of 
Scholafticks ;  and  in  thofe  of  France  a 
world  of  Hi/lories  &  Controverfies.  The 
fame  diverfity  may  be  alfo  obferved  in 
the  fucceffion  of  ages,  by  reafon  of  the 
vogue  which  have  had  the  Philofophy 
of  Plato,  that  of  Ariftotle,  the  Scholaf- 
tique,  the  Tongues  and  Controverfies; 
which  have  every  one  had  their  turns, 
domineered  in  feveral  times  ;  as  we  fee 
that  the  ftudy  of  the  Ethlcks  &  Politicks 

~do 


64          Erecting  of 


do  at  prefent  employ  the  greateft  part 
of  the  moft  vigorous  witts  of  this  our 
age,  whilft  the  weaker  fort  amufe  them- 
felves  with  FiStions  and  Romancies,  of 
which  I  fhall  onely  fay,  what  has  for- 
merly been  verified  by  Symmacus  upon 
the  like  narration,  Sine  argumento  re- 
rum  loquacitas  morofa  difplicet. 
C^Thefe  ordinary  precepts  &maximes 
being  fo  amply  explain'd,  there  remains 
now  no  more  to  accomplifh  this  Title 
of  the  Quality  of  Books,  then  to  propofe 
two  or  three  others ,  which  will  undoubt- 
edly be  received  as  very  extravagant,  & 
very  fit  to  thwart  the  common  &  invet- 
erate opinion  which  many  have  taken 
up,  that  efteem  no  Authours  but  by  their 
number  or  bulk  of  their  Volumes,  and 
judge  onely  of  their  value  &  merit,  by 

that 


a  Library  65 

that  which  ufes  to  make  us  defpife  all 
other  things,  viz.  their  age  &  caducity, 
like  that  of  the  old  man  in  Horace,  who 
is  reprefented  to  us  in  his  works ; 

....  Laudator  temporis  a£ti, 
Prafentis  cenfor,  cq/tigatorquefuturi: 

C.  The  nature  of  thefe  prepoffeffed 
fpirits  being  for  the  moft  part  fo  taken 
&  in  love  with  thofe  Images  &  antique 
pieces,  that  they  would  not  fo  much  as 
look  at  the  greateft  upon  any  Book  what- 
ever, whofe  Authour  were  not  older  than 
the  Mother  of  Evander,  or  the  Grand- 
firs  of  Carpentras;  nor  believe  that  time 
could  be  well  imployed,  which  was  fpent 
in  reading  any  modern  Books, fince  ac- 
cording to  their  maxime,  they  are  but 
Rapjodifts,  Coppiers,  or  Plagiaries ,&  ap- 
proach 


66         Erecting  of 


proach  in  nothing  to  the  Eloquence,  the 
learning  and  the  noble  conceptions  of 
the  Antients  ;  to  whom  for  this  refpe6l 
they  hold  themfelves  as  firmly  united 
as  the  Polypus  does  to  the  Rocks  with- 
out departing  in  the  leaft,  or  from  their 
Books,  or  do6lrine ;  &  which  they  never 
think  to  have  fufficiently  comprehend- 
ed, till  they  have  chewed  them  over  all 
their  life  time;  &  therefore  it  is  nothing 
extraordinary,  if  in  conclufion  of  the 
whole  fum,  and  when  they  have  fuffi- 
ciently fweat  &  tired  themfelves,  they 
referable  that  fame  ignorant  Marcellus, 
who  vaunted  up  &  down  in  all  places 
where  he  came,  that  he  had  read  Thud- 
dides  eight  times  over;  to  that  Nonnus 
of  whom  Syidas  fpeaks,  that  he  had  read 
his  Demofthenes  ten  times  without  ever 

being 


a  Library  67 

being  able  once  to  plead,  or  difcourte  of 
any  thing :  And  to  fpeak  really,  there  is 
nothing  more  apt  to  make  a  man  a  Ped- 
ant, &  banifh  him  from  common  fenfe, 
then  to  defpife  all  Modern  Authors,  to 
court  fome  few  only  of  the  Antient;  as 
if  they  alone  were,  forfooth,  the  fole 
Guardians  of  the  higheft  favours  that 
the  wit  of  man  may  hope  for;  or  that 
Nature,  jealous  of  the  honour  &  reputa- 
tion of  her  elder  fons,  would  to  our  pre- 
judice put  forth  all  her  abilities  to  the 
extreams,  that  fhe  might  Crown  them 
alone  with  all  her  graces  &  liberality: 
Certainly  I  do  not  imagine  that  any  ex- 
cept thofe  Gentlemen  the  Antiquaries, 
can  fatisfie  themfelves  with  fuch  Opin- 
ions, or  feed  themfelves  with  fuch  Fa- 
bles; fince  fo  many  frefh  Inventions, 

~  "fo 


68          Erecting  of 


fo  many  new  Opinions  &  Principles,  fo 
many  feveral  and  unthought  of  Altera- 
tions, fo  many  learned  Books  of  famous 
Perfonages,  of  new  Conceptions ;  and 
finally,  fo  many  Wonders  as  we  daily 
behold  tofpring  up,  dofufficiently  tefti- 
fie,  that  the  wits  are  ftronger,  more  po- 
lite, and  abftra<5ted  than  ever  formerly 
they  were ;  and  that  we  may  truly  and 
affuredly  affirm  at  this  prefent  day, 

Sumpfenwt  artes  hactempeftate  decorem, 
Nullaque  non  meliorquamprius  ipfafuit. 

CL  Or  make  the  fame  judgement  of  our 
age  as  Symmachus  did  of  his  own,  Ha- 
bemus  fteculum  virtute  amicum,  quo  ni/i 
optimus  quifque  gloriam  parity  hominis  eft 
culpa,  non  temporis.  From  hence  we 
may  infer,  that  it  would  be  a  fault  un- 
pardonable 


a  Library  69 

pardonable  in  one  who  profefles  toftore 
a  Library,  not  to  place  in  it  Piccohmini, 
Zabbarell,  Achillinus,  Niphus,  Pompo- 
nacius,  Licetus,  Cremoninus,  next  the 
old  Interpreters  ofAri/lotle;  Alciat,Ti- 
raqueaneus,  Cujas,  du  Moulin,  after  the 
Code  and  Digeft ;  the  fumof  Alexander 
of  Hales,  and  Henry  of  Gaunt,  next  that 
of  S.  Thomas ;  Clavius,  Maurolicus  and 
Vutta  after  Euclide  and  Archimedes ; 
Montagne,  Charon,  Verulam,  next  to 
Seneca  &  Plutarch ;  Fernelius,  Sylvius, 
Fujthius,  Cardan,  next  to  Galen  &  Avi- 
cen ;  Erafmus,  Cafaubon,  Scaliger,  Sal- 
majius,  next  to  Varro;  Commines,  Guic- 
ciardin,  Sleiden,  next  to  Titus  Livius 
&  Cornelius  Tacitus ;  Ariojlo,  TaJJb,  du 
Bartas,  next  to  Homer  and  Virgil,  and 
fo  confequently  of  all  the  Modern  moft 

famous 


70          Erecting  of 


famous  &  renouned  Authours;  fince  if 
the  capricious  Boccalinihad  undertaken 
to  ballance  them  with  the  Antients,  he 
had  haply  found  a  great  many  of  them 
more  inconfiderable,  and  but  very  few 
which  do  at  all  furpafs  them. 
CLThe  fecond  Maxime,  &  which  haply 
will  not  lefs  feem  a  Paradox  than  the 
firft,  is  dire6lly  contrary  to  the  opinion 
of  thofe  who  efteem  of  Books  onely 
as  they  are  in  price  &  bulk;  and  who 
are  much  pleafed,  &  think  themfelves 
greatly  honoured,  to  have  Toftatus  in 
their  Libraries,  becaufe  it  is  in  fourteen 
Volumes ;  or  a  Salmeron,  becaufe  there 
are  eight;  negle6ting  in  the  mean  time 
to  procure  &  furnifh  themfelves  with  an 
infinity  of  little  Books,  amongft  which 
there  are  often  found  fome  of  them  fo 

rarely 


a  Library  71 

rarely  &  learnedly  compofed,  that  there 
is  more  profit  and  contentment  to  be 
found  in  reading  them,  than  in  many 
others  of  thofe  rude,  heavy,  indigefted 
&  ill  polifhed  maffes,  for  the  moft  part; 
Atleaft,fo  true  is  that  faying  of  Seneca, 
Non  eft  facile  inter  magna  non  dejipere; 
and  that  which  Pliny  faid  of  one  of  Cic- 
ero's Orations,  M.  Tullii  Oratio  fertur 
optima  qucemaxima,  cannot  be  apply  ed  to 
thefe  monftrous  and  Gigantine  Books ; 
as  in  effe<5l  it  is  almoft  impoffible,  that 
the  witt  fhould  alwayes  remain  intent 
to  thefe  great  works,  &  that  the  heaps 
and  grand  confufion  of  things  that  one 
would  fpeak  choak  not  the  fancy,  and 
too  much  confound  the  ratiocination; 
whereas  on  the  contrary,  that  which 
ought  to  make  us  efteem  fmall  Books, 

which 


72          Erecting  of 


which  neverthelefs  treat  of  ferious 
things,  or  of  any  noble  &  fublime  fub- 
je6l,  is,  that  the  Authour  of  them  does 
perfe6lly  command  over  his  fubje<5l,as 
the  Workman  and  Artift  does  over  his 
matter ;  and  that  he  may  chew,  conco6l, 
digeft,  polifh  and  form  it  according  to 
his  fancy,  then  thofe  vaft  colle6lions  of 
fuch  great&prodigious  Volumes,  which 
for  this  caufe  are  often  times  but  the 
Panfpermia,  Chaof's  &  AbyflTes  of  Con- 
fufion; 

....  rudis  indigeftaque  moles, 

Nee  quicquam  niji  pondus  iners  conge- 

Jlaque  eodem, 
Non  bene  junStarum  difcordia  Jemina 

rerum. 

C,And  hence  it  is  that  there  refults  a 

fuccefs 


a  Library  73 

fuccefs  fo  unequal  as  may  be  obferved 
between  the  one  and  the  other;  for 
example,  'twixt  the  Satyrs  of  Perjius 
and  Philelphius ;  the  Examen  of  Witts 
of  Huarto,  and  that  of  Zara;  the 
Arithmetick  of  Ramus,  and  that  of  For- 
cudel;  Machiavels  Prince,  &  that  of 
more  than  fifty  other  Pedants;  The 
Logick  of  du  Moulin,  &  that  of  Vallius ; 
The  Annales  of  Volufius,  &  the  Hiftory 
of  Saluft:  EpiStetus  Manuel,  and  the 
moral  Secrets  of  Loriotus;  The  works 
of  Fracaftorius,  &  an  infinite  of  Phi- 
lofophers  and  Phyficians;  fo  true  is 
that  which  S.  Thomas  has  well  fpoken, 
Nufquam  ars  magis  quant  in  minimis 
tot  a  eft;  &  what  Cornelius  Gallus  was 
wont  to  promife  himfelf,  of  his  fmall 
Elegies ; 

Nee 


74         Erecting  of 


Nee  minus  eft  nobis  per  pauca  volumina 

famce, 
Quam  quos  nullafatis  Bibliotheca  capit. 

C.But  that  which  on  this  encounter 
makes  me  moft  to  admire,  is,  that  fuch 
perfons  fhould  negleft  the  Works  and 
Opufcles  of  fome  Authour  whilft  they 
remain  fcattered  and  feparated,  which 
afterwards  burn  with  a  defire  to  have 
them  when  they  are  colle<5led  &  bound 
together  in  one  Volume :  Such  will  neg- 
Ie6l  ( for  example )  the  Orations  of  James 
Cnfrw,becaufe  they  are  not  to  be  found 
Printed  together,  who  will  neverthelefs 
be  fure  to  have  thofe  of  Raymondus, 
Gallatius,  Nigronius,  Bencius,  Perpini- 
anus,&divers  other  Authours  in  his  Li- 
brary; not  that  they  are  better,  or  more 

difert 


a  Library  75 

difert  and  eloquent  than  thofe  of  this 
learned  Scotchman;  but  becaufe  they  are 
to  be  found  in  certain  Volumes  bound 
up  together:  Certainly,  fhould  all  little 
Books  be  negle6led,  there  were  no 
reckoning  to  be  made  of  the  Opufcles 
of  S.  Auguftin,  Plutarchs  Morals,  the 
Books  of  Galen, nor  of  the  greateft  part 
of  thofe  of  Erafmus,  of  Lipjius,  Turne- 
bus,  Mazaultius,  Sylvius,  Calcagninus, 
Francifcus  Picus,  and  many  like  Au- 
thours ;  no  more  than  of  thirty  or  fourty 
minor  Authours  in  Phyjick  &  Philofo- 
phy,  the  beft,and  moft  antient  amongft 
the  Greeks  ,and  of  divers  other  amongft 
the  Divines;  becaufe  they  have  all  of 
them  beendivulgedfeparately,  &  apart, 
one  after  another,  and  in  fo  fmall  Vol- 
umes, that  the  greateft  of  them  do  not 

frequently 


76          Erecting  of 


frequently  exceed  half  an  Alphabet :  & 
therefore,  fince  one  may  unite  under 
one  Cover,  that  which  was  feparate 
in  the  impreffion,  conjoyn  with  others 
what  would  be  loft  being  alone,  and  in 
effe<5l  we  may  meet  an  infinity  of  mat- 
ters which  have  never  been  treated  of 
but  in  thefe  little  Books  onely,  concern- 
ing which  it  may  rightly  be  faid,  as  Vir- 
gil does  of  Bees, 

Ingentes  animos  angujlo  in  corpore  ver- 
fant; 

C.  It  appears  to  me  to  be  very  expedi- 
ent, that  we  fhould  draw  them  out  of 
their  Stalls  and  old  Magazines,  &  from 
all  places  wherever  we  encounterthem, 
to  bind  them  up  with  thofe  which  are  of 
the  fame  Authour,  or  treat  of  the  fame 

matter, 


a  Library  77 

matter,  to  place  them  afterwards  in  our 
Libraries,  where  I  aflame  myfelf  they 
will  make  the  induftry  and  diligence  of 
thofe  Efculapiuf's  to  be  admir'd,  who 
are  fo  well  fkilFd  to  joyn  and  reaflem- 
ble  the  fcattered  &  feparated  members 
of  thofe  poor  Hippolituf's. 
C,The  third  (which  at firft  appearance 
one  would  conceive  to  be  contrary  to 
the  firft)  does  in  particular  combat  the 
opinion  of  thofe  who  are  fo  wedded  and 
befotted  to  all  new  Books,  that  they  to- 
tally negle<5t,  and  make  no  efteem,  not 
onelyof  all  the  Antients,butof  the  Au- 
thours  which  have  had  the  vogue,  &  ap- 
peared flourifhing  and  renouned  fince 
fix  or  feven  hundred  years  ;  that  is  to 
fay,  fince  the  age  ofBoetius,  Symmachus, 
Sydonius,  and  Cqffiodorus,  down  to  that 

of 


78          Erecting  of 


of  Picas,  PolitianuSy  Hermolaus,  Gaza, 
Philelphus,  Pogius,  and  Trapezontius ; 
fuch  as  are  divers  Philofophers,  Divines, 
Jurifconfults,PhyJitians  andAftrologers, 
who  by  their  black  and  Gothick  impref- 
fions  difguft  our  moft  delicate  ftudents 
of  this  age,  not  fuffering  them  fo  much 
as  to  caft  an  eye  upon  them,  but  with  a 
blufh,  and  to  the  difdaining  of  thofe  who 
compofed  them :  All  which  properly 
proceeds  from  hence,  that  the  ages  or 
thofe  witts  which  then  appeared,  have 
had  final  Geniuf's  and  different  inclina- 
tions, not  long  harping  upon  the  fame 
firing  of  like  ftudy  or  affe6tion  to  the 
Sciences  ;  or  having  nothing  fo  affured 
as  their  viciffitude  or  change;  as  in  ef- 
fe<5l  we  fee,  that  immediately  after  the 
birth  of  the  Chriftian  Religion  (not  to 

take 


a  Library  79 

take  things  any  higher)  the  Philofophy 
of  Plato  was  univerfally  followed  in  the 
fchools;  and  the  greater  part  of  the 
Fathers  were  Platonifts :  and  fo  contin- 
ued till  Alexander  Aphrodifeus  gave  it  a 
forceable  juftle  to  inftal  that  of  thePeri- 
pateticks,  &  traced  the  way  to  the  Greek 
and  Latine  Interpreters,  who  were  fo 
wedded  to  the  Explication  of  Anftotles 
Text,  that  a  man  fhould  yet  erre  in  it 
without  much  benefit,  if  the  Queftions 
&  Scholajticks  introduced  byAbelardus 
had  not  put  themfelves  amongst  the  rari- 
ties,to  domineer  over  all,  with  the  great- 
eft  and  moft  univerfal  approbation,  that 
was  ever  given  to  anything  whatfoever; 
&  that  for  the  fpace  of  about  five  or  fix 
ages,  after  which,  the  Hereticks  did  re- 
cal  us  to  the  interpretation  of  the  Holy 


Scriptures, 


so          Erecting  of 


Scriptures,  and  occafioned  us  to  read 
the  Bible  and  the  Holy  Fathers ,  who  had 
continually  been  negle<5ledamidft  thefe 
Ergotifmes;  &  in  purfuite  whereof  Con- 
troverlie  comes  now  in  requeft  as  to 
what  concerns  Theologie,  and  the  Ques- 
tionaries  with  the  Novators,  who  build 
upon  new  Principles,  or  elfe  reeftablifh 
thofe  of  the  antients,  Emptdoclts,  Epi- 
curus, Philolaus,  Pythagoras,  andDemoc- 
ritus,  for  Philofophy.  The  reft  of  the 
Faculties  being  not  exempted  from  like 
alterations ;  amongft  which,  it  has  ever- 
more been  the  cuftom  of  the  Witts  who 
follow  thefe  violences  and  changes,  as 
the  Fifh  do  the  Tyde,  to  think  no  more 
of  what  they  have  once  quitted ;  and 
to  fpeak  rafhly  with  the  Poet  Calphur- 
nius, 

Vilia 


a  Library  si 

Villa  funt  nobis  quczcunque   prioribus 

annis 
Vidimus,  &fordet  quicquid  fpedtavimus 

olim. 

C,  Infomuch  as  the  greateft  part  of  good 
Authours,  by  this  means,  remain  on  the 
funds,  abandon3 d&  negle<5led  by  every 
man ;  whilft  our  new  Cenfors  or  Plagi- 
aries poflefle  their  places,  and  enrich 
themfelves  with  their  fpoils.  And  it  is 
in  earneft  a  very  ftrange  and  unreafon- 
able  thing,  that  we  fhould  follow  &  ap- 
prove (for  example)  the  Colledges  of 
Conimbre  and  Suarez  in  Philofophy,  and 
fhould  come  to  negle6l  the  works  of  Al- 
bertus  Magnus,  Niphus,Mgidius9  Saxo- 
nia,  Pomponacius,  Achillinus,  Hervicus, 
Durandus,  Zimares,  Buccaferrus,  and  a 

number 


82          Erecting  of 


number  of  the  like,  out  of  which  all  the 
great  Books  which  we  now  follow,  are 
for  the  moft  part  compiled  and  tran- 
fcribed  word  for  word :  That  we  fhould 
have  an  incomparable  efteem  of  Ama- 
tus,  Thrivierus,  Capivaccius,  Montanus, 
Valejius,  and  almoft  of  all  the  modern 
Phyfitians,  &  be  afhamed  to  furnifh  our 
Libraries  with  Books  of  Hugo  Senenjis, 
Jacobus  de  Forlivio,  Jacobus  de  Va- 
lejius,  Gordonus,  Thomas,  Dinus,  and  all 
the  Avicenifts,  who  have  really  followed 
the  Genius  of  their  Age,  rude  and  dull  as 
to  what  concerned  the  barbarity  of  the 
Latine  tongue ;  but  who  have  yet  fo  far 
penetrated  into  the  profundities  of  Phy- 
fick,  according  to  Cardans  own  confef- 
fion,  that  divers  of  our  modern  for  want 
of  fufficient  refolution,  conftancy,  and 

affiduity 


a  Library  83 

affiduity  to  purfue  &  imitate  them,  are 
conftrained  to  make  ufe  of  fome  of  their 
Arguments  to  re  veft  them  a  la  mode,  & 
make  their  braggs  and  parade,  whilft 
they  themfelves  dwell  onely  upon  the 
topps  of  flowers,  &fuperficial  language, 
or  without  advancing  farther. 

Decerpunt  flores,  &  fumma  cacumina 
captant. 

C.  What  fhall  we  then  fay,  that  Scaliger 
and  Cardan,  two  of  the  greateft  per- 
fonages  of  the  laft  age,  consenting  both 
in  the  fame  point  concerning  the  pre- 
mifes  of  Richard  Suiflent,  otherwife 
called  the  Calculator,  who  lived  within 
thefe  three  hundred  years,  to  place  him 
in  the  rank  of  ten  of  the  rareft  witts  that 
ever  appeared ;  whilft  we  are  not  able 

to 


84         Erecting  of 


to  find  his  works  in  all  the  moft  famous 
Libraries  ?  And  what  hope  is  there  that 
the  SeSlators  of  Occham  Prince  of  the 
Nonunah,  fhould  eternally  be  deprived 
of  once  feeing  his  works,  as  well  as  all 
Philofophers,  thofe  of  the  great  and  re- 
nouned  Avicen  ?  In  earneft,  me  thinks 
that  it  is  wholly  for  want  of  judgement 
in  the  choyce  and  cognizance  of  Books, 
tonegle6l  all  thefe  Authours,  which  are 
fo  much  the  more  to  be  fought  after, 
as  they  are  more,  and  may  hereafter 
challenge  the  place  of  Manufcripts ; 
fince  we  have  almoft  loft  all  hopes  that 
they  fhould  ever  be  printed. 
C,  Finally,  the  fourth  and  laft  of  thefe 
Maximes  concerns  onely  the  choice  & 
ele6lion,  which  one  ought  to  make  of 
Manuscripts,  in  oppofition  of  that  cuf- 

tome 


a  Library  85 

tome  receiv'd  and  introduced  by  many, 
from  the  great  reputation  of  our  prefent 
Criticks,  who  have  taught  &  accuftom'd 
us  to  make  more  account  of  one  Manu- 
fcript  of  Virgil,  Suetonius,  Perjius,  Ter- 
ence, or  fome  others  amongft  the  old 
Authours,  than  of  thofe  gallant  perfons 
who  have  never  yet  been  either  feen,or 
printed;  as  if  there  were  any  likelyhood 
that  men  fhouldprefently  purfuethe  ca- 
pricioufnefs,  imaginations  or  cheats  of 
thefe  modern  Cenfurors  and  Grammari- 
ans, which  ufelefly  apply  the  flower  of 
their  age  in  forging  of  empty  conjec- 
tures, &  begging  the  corrections  of  the 
Vatican,  to  alter,  corre6l  or  fupply  the 
Text  of  fome  Authour,who  hath  haply 
already  confirmed  the  labour  of  ten  or 
twelve  men,  though  one  might  very 

eafily 


86          Erecting  of 


eafily  be  without  it. 
C.  Or  that  it  were  not  a  miferable  thing, 
and  worthy  of  commiferation  to  fuflfer 
to  be  loft  and  rot  amongft  the  hands  of 
fome  ignorant  poffeflbrs,  the  elucubra- 
tions  and  labours  of  an  infinity  of  great 
perfonages,  who  have  fweat  &  wrought 
perhaps  all  their  lives  long,  to  impart  us 
the  knowledge  of  fomething  that  was 
never  known  before,  or  elucidated  fome 
profitable  and  neceflary  matter;  And 
yet  neverthelefs,  the  example  of  thefe 
Cenfors  have  been  fuch,  and  their  au- 
thority fo  ftrong  &  forceable,  that  not- 
withftandingthe  difguft  which  Robortel 
and  others  amongft  them  hath  given  us; 
nay,  even  of  thefe  Manufcripts  them- 
felves ;  yet  have  they  fo  far  bewitched 
the  world  in  fearch  of  them,  that  they 


are 


a  Library  «7 

are  the  onely  things  now  in  requeft,  & 
judged  worthy  of  being  placed  in  our 
Bibliotheques. 

Tanta  eftptenuria  mentis  ubique, 
In  nugas  tamprona  via  eft! 

Q  And  therefore,  fince  it  is  the  very  Ef- 
fence  of  a  Library,  to  have  a  great  num- 
ber of  Manuscripts ;  becaufe  they  are  at 
prefent  in  moft  efteem,  and  lefs  vulgar; 
I  conceive,  my  Lord,  with  refpeft  to 
your  better  judgement,  that  it  would  be 
extreamly  requifite  for  you  to  purfue  as 
you  have  begun,  in  furnifhing  your  Li- 
brary with  fuch  as  have  been  compofed 
dearly,  and  full,  upon  any  gallant  fub- 
je6l,  conformable  to  thofe  which  you 
have  already  made  fearch  of,  not  onely 
here,  but  at  Conjlantinople,  and  what- 

foever 


88 


Erecting  of 


foever  is  to  be  obtained  of  many  other 
Authours  Antient  &  Modern,  fpecified 
by  Neander,  Cardan,  Gefner,  and  all  the 
Catalogues  of  the  beft  Libraries;  &  not 
of  all  thofe  Copies  of  Books  which  have 
been  already  printed,  and  which  at  beft 
are  onely  capable  to  affift  us  with  fome 
vain  and  trifling  conje6lures:  and  yet  it 
is  not  my  intention  that  men  fhould  un- 
dervalue and  negle6l  all  thefe  kind  of 
Books,  as  well  knowing  by  the  exam- 
ple of  Ptolomy,  what  efteem  one  fhould 
alwayes  have  ofAutographes,or  of  thofe 
two  forts  of  Manufcripts  which  Robortel 
(in  relation  to  Criticifm}  prefers  before 
all  others. 

C,  Laftly,  to  clofe  this  point  concerning 
the  quality  of  Books,!  add,  that,  as  well 
concerning  Books  of  this  fort,  as  printed 

ones, 


a  Library  89 

ones,  you  muft  not  onely  obferve  the 
aforefaid  circumftances,  &  choofe  them 
accordingly;  as  for inftance,bethequef- 
tion  about  Bodins  Republique,  to  infer 
that  he  ought  to  be  had,  becaufe  the  Au- 
thour  has  been  the  moft  famous  and  re- 
nouned  of  his  age,  &  who  amongft  the 
moderns  has  firft  treated  on  this  fubje<5l, 
that  the  fubje6l  is  exceedingly  necef- 
fary,  and  in  much  requeft  in  the  times 
wherein  we  live,  that  the  Book  is  com- 
mon, tranflated  into  feveral  tongues,  & 
printed  almoft  every  five  or  fix  years ; 
but  this  we  are  alfo  to  obferve,  viz.  to 
buy  the  Book,  if  the  Authour  be  good, 
though  the  matter  it  felf  be  but  vulgar 
&  trivial;  or,  when  the  fubje6l  of  it  is 
difficult  &  little  known,  though  the  Au- 
thour thereof  be  not  much  efteemed;  & 

thus 


90         Erecting  of 


thus  pra6tife  a  World  of  other  Rules,  as 
upon  occafionwe  encounter  them,fmce 
it  were  impoffible  to  reduce  them  to  an 
Art  or  Method ;  which  makes  me  con- 
ceive fuch  a  man  worthily  to  acquit  him- 
felf  of  fuch  a  charge,  who  has  not  a 
perverted judgement,  temerarious,  ftuft 
with  extravagances,  and  preoccupied 
with  thefe  childifh  opinions,  which  ex- 
cite many  perfons  to  defpife  &  fuddenly 
to  reje<5t  whatfoever  is  not  of  their  own 
gifts,  as  if  every  one  were  obliged  to 
govern  himfelf  according  to  the  ca- 
prices of  their  fantafies,  or  as  if  it  were 
not  the  duty  of  a  difcreet  and  prudent 
man,  to  difcourfe  of  all  things  indiffer- 
ently, &  never  to  judge  according  to 
the  efteem  which  both  one  or  the  other 
admits  of  them,  but  rather  conform- 
able 


Library 


able  to  the  fentiment  which  we  ought 
to  have  in  refpe6l  of  their  proper  nature 
and  ufe. 


CHAP. 


92          Erecting  of 


CHAP.  V. 

By  what  Expedients  they  may  be 
procured. 

HAVING  now,  my  Lord,  {hewed 
by  thefe  three  firft  Points,  what 
one  ought  to  purfue  to  inform  himfelf 
in  the  ere6ling  of  a  Library;  with  what 
quantity  of  Books  it  is  expedient  to  fur- 
nifh  it,  and  of  what  quality  they  ought 
to  be  chofen :  That  which  now  enfues, 
is  to  enquire,  by  what  means  a  man  may 
procure  them,  &  what  we  are  to  do  for 
the  progrefs  &  augmentation  of  them : 
Upon  all  which,  I  fhall  truly  affirm,  that 
the  firft  precept  which  is  to  be  given  on 
thisfubje6l,  is, that  a  manftudioufly  pre- 

ferve 


a  Library  93 

ferve  thofe  which  are  a<5lively acquired, 
and  that  he  yet  obtain  new  ones  every 
day;  not  fuffering  any  to  be  loft  or  em- 
bezled  at  any  hand.  Tolerabilius  enim 
eft,faciliufque  (fayes  Seneca]  non  acqui- 
rere,quam  amittere,  ideoque  Icetiores  vide- 
bis  quos  nunquamfortuna  rejpexit,  quam 
quos  deferuit.  Add,  that  it  will  never  be 
this  way  toaugmentmuch,  if  that  which 
you  have  colle6led  with  fo  much  pains 
and  induftry,  come  to  be  loft,  &  to  per- 
ifh  for  want  of  care :  And  therefore  Ovid 
&the  wifeft  men  had  reafon  to  fay,  that 
it  was  no  lefs  vertue  to  prefervea  thing 
well,  than  to  acquire  it  fo :  Nee  minor  ejt 
virtus  quam  quarere  part  a  tueri. 
C.The  fecond  is,  that  we  negle<5l  no- 
thing which  is  worth  the  reckoning,  & 
which  may  be  of  ufe,  be  it  either  to 

our 


94          Erecting  of 


our  felves  or  others;  fuch  as  are  Libels, 
Placarts,  Thefes,  Fragments,  Proofs,  & 
the  like,  which  one  ought  carefully  to 
unite,  and  gather  according  to  Titles,  & 
fubje<5ls  of  fuch  they  treat ;  becaufe  it 
is  the  onely  expedient  to  render  them 
confiderable,and  fo  order  it,  Ut  qua  non 
profuntJingula,junStajuvent.  Other- 
wife,  it  ordinarily  comes  to  pafs,  that 
whilft  we  defpife  thefe  little  Books, 
which  appear  onely  as  mean  baubles, 
and  pieces  of  no  confideration,  we  hap- 
pen to  lofe  a  world  of  rare  colle<5lions, 
and  fuch  as  are  fometimes  the  moft  cu- 
rious pieces  of  the  whole  Library. 
CL  The  third  may  be  deduced  from  the 
means  that  were  pra6lif  'd  by  Richard 
de  BuryEiihop  of  Durham,  great  Chan- 
cellour  &  L.  Treafurer  of  England,  which 

confifts 


a  Library  95 

confifts  in  publifhing  &  making  known 
to  every  body  the  aflfe6lion  which  we 
have  to  Books,  and  the  extraordinary 
defire  which  we  have  toere6l  a  Library; 
for  this  being  once  divulged  and  com- 
municated, it  is  certain,  that  if  he  who 
defignes  it  be  inefficient  credit  and  au- 
thority to  do  his  friends  pleafure;  there 
will  not  be  a  man  of  them  but  will  take 
it  for  an  honour  to  prefent  him  with  the 
moft  curious  Books  that  come  into  his 
hands ;  and  that  will  not  voluntarily  ad- 
mit him  into  his  Study,  or  in  thofe  of 
his  friends;  briefly,  who  will  not  ftrive 
to  aid  and  contribute  to  his  intention  all 
that  he  can  poffibly  ?  as  it  is  very  well 
obferved  by  the  fame  Richard  de  Bury, 
in  thefe  proper  terms,  which  I  there- 
fore the  more  willingly  tranfcribe,  be- 

caufe 


96          Erecting  of 


caufe  his  Book  is  very  rare,  and  of  the 
number  of  thofe  which  are  loft  through 
our  negle<5l.  Succedenttbus  (fayes  he) 
profperis,  Regice  majejlatis  confecuti  no- 
titianiy  &  in  ipjius  acceptati  familia,  fa- 
cultatem  fufcepimus  ampliorem,  ubilibet 
vijitandipro  libitu,  &venandi  qua/if altus 
quojdam  delicatiflimos,tumprivatas, turn 
communes,  turn  regularium,  tumftecula- 
rium  Bibliothecas:  &  a  little  after,  Pm- 
Jlabatur  nobis  aditus  facilis,  regalisfa- 
voris  intuitu,  ad  librorum  latebras  libere 
perfcrutandas,  amoris  quippe  noftrifama 
volatilisjam  ubique  percrebuit,  tantum- 
que  librorum  &  maxime  veterum  fere- 
bamur  cupiditate  languejcere,  pojje  vero 
quemlibetper  quaternos  facilius  quamper 
pecuniam  adipifcifavorem.  Quamobrem 
cum  fupradiSti  Principis  auStoritate  fuf- 

fulti 


a  Library  97 

fulti  pojjemus  obejje  &prodeffe,proficere 
&officerevehementertam  majoribus  quant 
pujillis,  affluxerunt  loco  Enceniorum  & 
munerum,  locoque  donorum  &jocalium. 
Ccenulenti  quaterni,  ac  decrepiti  Codices 
nojtristam  afpeftibus  quamaffeftibus  pre- 
tioji,  tune  nobiliffimorum  Monafteriorum 
aperiebantur  armaria,  referabantur fcri- 
nia,  &ciftulcefolvebantur9  &c.  To  which 
he  yet  adjoyns,  the  feveral  Voyages 
which  he  madehimfelf  in  quality  of  Am- 
baflador,  &  the  great  number  of  learned, 
&  curious  perfons,  ofwhofe  labour  &in- 
duftry  he  made  ufe  of  in  this  refearch ; 
and  what  yet  induces  me  to  believe  that 
thefe  pra6lifes  would  have  fome  effe<5l, 
is,  that  I  know  a  perfon,  who  being  cu- 
rious of  Medalls,  Pictures,  Statues,  In- 
taglias  and  other  Cabinet  pieces,  hath 


collefted 


98         Erecting  of 


collected  by  this  fole  induftry,  above 
twelve  hundred  pounds  worth,  without 
ever  having  difburfed  four.  And  in  ear- 
neft,  I  hold  it  for  a  Maxime,  that  every 
civil  and  good  natur'd  man,  fhould  al- 
wayes  fecond  the  laudable  intentions 
of  his  friends,  provided  they  be  not  pre- 
judicial to  his  own:  So  that  he  that  has 
Books,  Medalls,  PiStures9  which  comes 
to  him  by  chance,  rather  than  out  of 
aflfe<5lion  to  them,  may  eafily  be  per- 
fwaded  to  accommodate  fuch  of  his 
friends  whom  he  knows  to  defire,  &  is 
curious  of  them.  I  fhall  willingly  add  to 
this  third  Precept,  the  craft  which  Ma- 
giftrates  and  perfons  of  authority  may 
pra6life,  and  exercife  by  means  of  their 
dignities :  but  I  would  not  more  nakedly 
explicate  it,  than  by  the  fimple  narra- 
tion 


a  Library  99 

tion  of  the  Stratagem  which  the  Vene- 
tians made  ufe  of,  to  obtain  the  beft  Man- 
ufcriptsofPinellus  immediately  after  his 
deceafe ;  for  upon  the  advice  which  they 
had,  that  they  were  about  to  tranfport 
his  Library  from  Padua  to  Naples ,they 
fuddenlydifpatched  one  of  their  Magif- 
trates,  whofeifed  upon  a  hundred  Bales 
of  Books,  amongft  which  there  were 
fourteen  of  them  that  contain'd  Manu- 
fcripts,  &  two  of  them  above  four  hun- 
dred Commentaries  on  all  the  affairs  of 
Italy ;  alledging  for  their  reafons,  that 
though  they  had  permitted  the  defun6l 
Seigneur  Pinelliy  in  regard  of  his  condi- 
tion, his  defign,  his  laudable  and  irre- 
proachlefs  life,  &  principally,  thefriend- 
fhip  which  he  ever  teftified  towards  the 
Republique,  to  have  Copies  of  their  Ar- 
chives, 


ioo        Erecting  of 

chives,  &  Regifters  of  their  affairs ;  yet  it 
was  neither  fit  nor  expedient  for  them, 
that  fuch  pieces  fhould  come  to  be  di- 
vulged, difcovered  and  communicated 
after  his  death ;  whereupon  at  the  in- 
ftance  of  the  Heirs  and  Executors  of 
the  Teftament,  who  were  powerful  &  au- 
thorifed,  they  retained  onely  two  hun- 
dred of  thefe  Commentaries,  which  were 
placed  in  a  Chamber  apart,  with  this  in- 
fcription,  Decerpta  hcec  Imperio  Senatus 
e  Bibliotheca  Pinelliana. 
dThe  fourth  is,toretrench  &  cut  off  all 
the  fuperfluous  expences,  which  many 
prodigally  and  to  no  purpofe  beftow  up- 
on the  binding  and  ornaments  of  their 
Books,  and  to  employ  it  in  purchafing 
fuch  as  they  want,  that  fo  they  may  not 
be  obnoxious  to  that  cenfure  of  Seneca, 

who 


a  Library          101 

who  handfomly  reproaches  thofe,  Qui- 
bus  voluminum  fuorum  /routes  maxime 
placent  titulique;  &  this  the  rather,  that 
the  binding  is  nothing  but  an  accident 
&  form  of  appearing,  without  which  ( at 
leaft  fo  fplendid  and  fumptuous )  Books 
become  altogether  as  ufeful,  commode 
&  rare ;  it  becoming  the  ignorant  onely 
to  efteem  a  Book  for  its  cover;  feeing 
it  is  not  with  Books,  as  it  is  with  men, 
who  are  onely  known  and  refpe<5ted  for 
their  robes  and  their  clothes,  fo  that  it 
is  a  great  deal  better,  and  more  necef- 
fary,  for  example,  to  have  a  good  quan- 
tity of  Books,  well  &  ordinarily  bound, 
than  to  have  a  little  Chamber  or  Cab- 
inet full  of  wafhed,  gilded,  ruled,  and 
enriched  with  all  manner  of  nicity,  lux 
and  fuperfluity. 

CThe 


102        Erecting  of 


fifth  concerns  the  buying  of 
them,  &  that  may  be  divided  into  four 
or  five  Articles,  fuitable  to  the  feveral 
expedients  which  maybe  obferved  in  the 
pra6life.  Now,  amongft  thefe,  I  fhould 
willingly  fet  down  for  the  firft,  the 
fpeedieft,  eafie  and  advantagious  of  all 
the  reft,  that  which  is  made  by  the  ac- 
quifition  of  fome  other  entire  and  undif- 
fipated  Library.  I  call  it  prompt,  and 
fpeedy  ;  becaufe  thatin  lefs  than  a  dayes 
time  one  may  have  a  goodly  number  of 
Books  curious  and  learned,  which  one 
fhall  not  be  able  to  amafs  and  colle6l 
together  during  a  mans  whole  life.  I 
call  it  facil,  becaufe  one  fpares  both  the 
pains  and  the  time  which  would  be  con- 
fumed  in  purchafing  them  feparately  ; 
In  fine,  I  name  it  advantagious,  becaufe, 

if 


a  Library          103 

if  the  Libraries  which  we  buy  be  good 
and  curious,  they  ferve  to  augment  the 
credit  and  reputation  of  thofe  who  are 
enriched  by  them ;  whence  we  fee  that 
Paffemnus  fo  much  efteems  that  of  Car- 
dinal de  Joyeufe,  for  that  it  was  com- 
pofed  of  three  others,  one  whereof  had 
beenMonfieurPitheus,&t  for  that  all  the 
moft  renouned  Libraries  have  received 
their  augmentation  in  this  manner ;  as 
for  inftance,  that  of  S.  Mark  at  Venice  by 
the  donation  of  Cardinal  Beffarions; 
that  of  the  Efcurial  by  that  great  one 
which  Hurtado  de  Mendoza  had  col- 
lefted;  The  Ambrofian  of  Milan,bythe 
ninety  Bales  which  were  added  to  it  at 
once  by  that  one  fole  naufrage  &  ruine 
of  Pinellis ;  that  of  Ley  den,  by  above 
two  hundred  Manufcripts  in  the  Ori- 
ental 


104        Erecting  of 


ental  Languages,  which  Scaliger  be- 
queathed to  it  by  his  Teftament;  and  fi- 
nally, that  ofAfcanius  Colomna,  by  that 
incomparable  one  which  Cardinal  Sir- 
let  tus  left  it ;  whence  I  conje6lure,  my 
Lord,  that  yours  cannot  but  one  day 
emerge  one  of  the  moft  famous  and  re- 
nouned  amongft  the  greateft,  by  rea- 
fon  of  that  of  your  Fathers,  which  is  al- 
ready fo  famous  and  univerfally  known 
from  the  relation  which  has  been  left  to 
pofterity  by  La  Croix,  Fauchet,  Marjil- 
lius,  Turnebus,  Pafjeratius,  Lambinus,  & 
by  almoft  all  the  gallant  perfons  of  that 
ftrain,  who  have  not  been  [unjmindfull 
of  the  benefit  &  inftruftions  which  they 
have  received  of  them. 
C.  After  all  which,  me  thinks,  the  means 
which  neareft  approaches  to  this  firft,  is, 

to 


a  Library          105 

to  rummage  and  often  to  revifite  the 
fhops  of  frippery  Bookfellers,  &  the  old 
Stores  and  Magazines  as  well  of  Books 
bound  up,  as  of  thofe  which  have  fo  long 
remained  in  waftefheets,fo  many  years, 
that  there  are  many,  not  much  know- 
ing &  verfed  in  this  kind  of  fearch,  who 
conceive  they  can  be  of  no  others  ufe 
then  to  hinder. 

toga  cordylis,  ne  pcenula  dejit  olivis, 

albeit  we  often  encounter  very  excellent 
Books  amongft  them,  and  that  (the  ex- 
pence  well  managed)  one  may  chance 
to  purchafe  more  for  ten  crowns,  than 
one  can  other  wife  buy  for  fourtyorfifty, 
(hould  one  take  them  in  feveral  places 
&  pieces ;  provided  neverthelefs,  a  man 
have  a  fufficient  ftock  of  care  and  pa- 
tience, 


ice        Erecting  of 


tience,  confidering  that  one  cannot  fay 
of  a  Library  what  certain  Poets  faid  of 
our  City, 

Quo  primum  nata  eft  tempore,  magna 
fuit: 

It  being  impoffible  fo  fpeedily  to  ac- 
complifh  a  thing,  of  which  Solomon  tells 
us  there  is  no  end ;  Libros  enimfaciendi 
non  erit finis;  &  to  the  finifhing  where- 
of, though  Monfieur  Thuanus  has  la- 
boured twenty  years,  Pinelli  fifty,  and 
divers  others  all  their  lives  long,  yet  are 
you  not  to  believe,  that  they  are  arrived 
to  that  utmoft  perfection  which  were  to 
be  wifhed  one  might  attain  to,  in  point 
of  a  Library. 

f^Butfince  itis  neceflary  forthe  growth 
&  augmentation  of  fuch  a  piece,  to  fur- 

nifh 


a  Library          107 

nifh  it  diligently  with  all  the  new  Books 
of  merit  and  confideration  that  are 
printed  in  all  parts  of  Europe;  and  that 
Pinellus  and  the  reft  have  for  this  pur- 
pofe  entertained  correfpondency  with 
an  infinite  number  of  friends,  ftrangers, 
and  forreign  Merchants;  It  would  be 
very  expedient,  to  put  the  fame  in  prac- 
tice, or  at  leaft  to  make  choice  of  two  or 
three  rich  Merchants  kno wing  &  expe- 
rienced in  their  vocation,  who  by  their 
various  intelligences,  &  voyages,  might 
furnifh  us  with  all  kinds  of  novelties,  & 
make  diligent  perquifitionof  what  ever 
we  demand  by  Catalogues;  which  thing 
it  is  not  fo  neceflary  to  pra6life  for  old 
Books,  forafmuch  as  the  fureft  expedi- 
ent to  ftore  ones  felf  good  cheap  with 
them,  is,  to  feek  for  them  indifferently 

amongft 


Erecting  of 


amongft  the  Stationers,  amongft  whom 
the  length  of  time,  &  various  occaiions 
is  uf  'd  to  difperfe  and  fcatter  them. 
C.I  will  not  yet  infer,  for  all  the  good 
hulbandry  which  we  have  propofed  a- 
bove,  that  it  is  not  fometimes  necefiary 
to  exceed  the  limits  of  this  Oeconomy, 
to  purchafe  at  extraordinary  prices 
fome  certain  Books  that  are  very  rare, 
and  which  one  fhall  hardly  get  out  of 
their  hands  who  underftand  them,  but 
by  this  onely  means.  But  the  temper 
which  is  to  be  obferved  in  this  difficulty, 
is,  to  confider  that  Libraries  are  neither 
built  nor  efteemed  but  for  the  fervice 
&  benefit  which  one  may  receive  from 
them,  and  therefore  one  fhould  negle6l 
fuch  Books  &  Manufcripts  as  are  only 
valuable  in  refpeft  of  their  Antiquity, 

figures, 


a  Library  109 

figures,  paintings,  binding,  and  other 
weak  confiderations ;  Such  as  were 
the  Froijfard,  which  certain  Merchants 
would  have  fold  not  long  fince  at  three 
hundred  Crowns ;  The  Bocace  of  the  un- 
fortunate Nobles,  which  was  eftimated 
at  a  hundred;  The  Mtffal  and  Bible  of 
Guinart ;  the  Howres,  which  they  are 
wont  to  fay  was  ineftimable  for  its  curi- 
ous figures  and  copartiments,  The  Titus 
Livius,  and  other  Hiftorians  in  Manu- 
fcripts  &  painted  in  miniature;  Chinefe 
and  Japan  Books,  fuch  as  are  drawn  in 
Parchment,  ftained  Paper,  of  extream 
fine  Cotton,  and  with  large  Margents, 
and  feveral  others  of  the  like  fluff;  to 
employ  the  great  fums  which  they  coft, 
upon  Volumes  more  ufeful  in  a  Library 
than  all  thefe  we  have  mentioned,  or  fuch 


as 


no        Erecting  of 

as  refemble  them,  which  fhall  never 
make  the  paffionate  Colle6lors  of  them 
fo  much  efteemed,  as  was  Ptolomeus 
Philadelphus  for  giving  fifteen  talents 
for  the  works  of  Euripides;  Tarquinius, 
who  bought  the  three  Books  of  Sibyll, 
at  as  great  a  price  as  would  have  pur- 
chafed  all  the  nine ;  Ariftotle,  who  gave 
threefcore  and  twelve  thoufand  Sefter- 
cies  for  the  works  of  Speujippus;  Plato, 
who  employed  a  thoufand  denarii  for 
thofe  ofPhilolaus;  Eeffarion,  who  bought 
thirty  thoufand  Crowns  worth  of  Greek 
Books;  Hurtado  de  Mendoza,  who  pro- 
cured a  great  Ships  fraight,  out  of 
the  Levant;  Picus  Mirandula,  who  ex- 
pended feven  thoufand  Crowns  in  He- 
brew Manufcripts,  Chaldean,  &  others; 
&  in  brief,  that  King  of  France  who  en- 


a  Library         m 

gaged  his  Gold  &  Silver  Plate  to  have  a 
Copy  of  LacertiuSj  a  Book  belonging  to 
theLibraryof  the  Phyfitiansof  this  City, 
as  it  is  teftified  at  large  in  the  antient 
Patent  and  Regifters  of  their  Faculty. 
C[To  thefe  I  add,  that  it  would  be  expe- 
dient alfo  to  know  of  the  Parents  and 
Heirs  of  feveral  gallant  perfons,  wheth- 
er they  have  not  left  fome  Manuscripts 
which  they  would  part  withall,  feeing  it 
frequently  comes  to  pafs,  that  the  great- 
eft  number  of  them  never  print  half  of 
their  works ;  being  either  prevented  by 
their  death,  or  hindred  by  the  expence, 
the  apprehenfion  of  many  cenfures  & 
judgements,  the  fear  of  not  coming  well 
off,  the  liberty  of  their  difcourfe,  their 
modefty,  &  other  the  like  reafons  which 
have  deprived  us  of  many  Books  of  Pof- 

tellus, 


us        Erecting  of 

tellus9  Bodin,  Mar/illius,  Pafferatius, 
Maldonat,  &c.  whofe  Manuscripts  are 
frequently  lighted  upon  in  particular 
mens  ftudies,  or  in  Bookfellers  fhops. 
In  like  manner  alfo  ought  one  to  know 
from  year  to  year,  what  TraSls  the  moft 
learned  Regents  of  the  neighbouring 
Univerjities  are  to  read,  as  well  in  their 
publique  Clafles,  as  in  particular,  there- 
by to  procure  Copies  to  be  written ;  & 
by  this  means  eafily  obtain  a  world  of 
pieces,  as  good  &  eftimable  as  are  many 
Manufcripts  which  are  dearly  bought 
for  their  age  and  antiquity ;  for  inftance, 
theTreatife  of  the  Druides  of  M.  Mar- 
Jillius;  The  Hiftory  and  Treatife  of  the 
French  Magiftrates  of  M.  Grangier; 
The  Geography  of  M.  Belurgey;  the  fun- 
dry  writings  of  M.  M.  Dautruy,  Ham- 

bert9 


a  Library 


bert,  Seguin,  ofdu  Val9  of  Artis;  and  in 
a  word,  of  the  moft  renouned  Profef- 
fors  of  all  France. 

C.  Finally,  one  that  had  as  great  an  af- 
feftion  for  Books  as  the  Sieur  Vincen- 
tius  Pinellij  may  alfo,  as  he  did,  vifit  the 
Shops  of  thofe  who  often  buy  old  Pa- 
pers or  Parchments,  to  fee  if  there  no- 
thing chance  into  their  hands  that  may 
be  worthy  the  colle<5lion  for  a  Library  ; 
And  in  truth,  we  fhould  be  much  en- 
couraged in  this  particular,  by  the  ex- 
ample ofPogius,  who  found  Quintilian 
upon  the  Counter  of  a  Cooks  Jbop,  dur- 
ing the  time  that  he  was  at  the  Councel 
of  Conftance,  as  alfo  by  that  of  Papirius 
MaJJbnius,  who  encountred  Agobardus 
in  a  Stationers  fhop,  who  was  ready  to 
cover  his  Books  with  it;  &  ofAfconius, 

which 


H4       Erecting  of 


which  has  been  given  to  us  by  a  like 
chance :  But  forafmuch,  nevertheleffe, 
that  this  expedient  is  alfo  as  extraordi- 
nary as  is  their  aflfe<5lion  who  make  ufe 
of  it ;  I  fhall  rather  choofe  to  leave  it  to 
their  difcretion,  than  prefcribe  it  as  a 
general  and  neceflfary  rule. 


CHAP. 


a  Library 


CHAP.   VI. 

The  Difpojition  of  the  place  where  they 
Jhould  be  kept. 

THIS  confideration  of  the  place 
which  ought  to  be  made  choice 
of  to  corre6l  and  eftablifh  a  Library  in, 
would  well  take  up  as  long  a  difcourfe 
as  any  of  the  precedent,  could  the  Pre- 
cepts which  one  might  give  be  exe- 
cuted with  as  much  facility,  as  thofe 
which  we  have  already  deduced  &  ex- 
plicated above:  But,  forafmuch  as  it 
onely  appertains  to  thofe  who  would 
build  places  exprefly  for  this  purpofe, 
precifely  to  obferve  all  the  rules  &  cir- 
cumftances  which  depend  on  the  Archi- 

teSture, 


116        Erecting  of 

teSlure,  many  particularities  being  nec- 
eflarily  obliged  to  fubmit  to  the  divers 
fhapes  of  their  dwellings,  to  place  their 
Library  as  conveniently  as  they  can ; 
and  to  fpeak  ferioufly,  I  conceive  it  the 
fole  occafion  which  has  perfwaded  Ar- 
chiteSls  to  add  nothing  to  what  Vitruvi- 
us  has  faid  thereupon.  Howbeit,  not  to 
publifhthis  advice  lame  and  imperfeft, 
I  fhall  offer  you  my  opinion  in  fhort,  to 
the  end  that  every  body  may  make  ufe 
of  it  according  to  his  power,  or  as  he 
fhall  judge  it  to  his  liking. 
4L  As  to  what  concerns  then  the  fitua- 
tion,  where  one  would  build,  or  choofe 
a  place  convenient  for  a  Library,  it 
feems  that  this  common  faying 
Carmina  fecejjum  fcribentis  &  otia  qute- 
runt, 

would 


a  Library 


would  oblige  us  to  take  it  in  a  part  of 
the  houfe  the  moft  retired  from  the  noife 
&  difturbance,  not  onely  of  thofe  with- 
out, but  alfo  of  the  family  and  domef- 
ticks  ;  diftant  from  the  ftreets,  from  the 
kitchin,  the  common  hall,  &  like  place  ; 
to  fituate  it  (  if  poffible  )  within  fome  fpa- 
cious  Court,  or  fmall  Garden,  where  it 
may  enjoy  a  free  light,  a  good  &  agree- 
able profpe6t;  the  air  pure,  not  near  to 
marfhes,  finks  or  dung-hills,  and  the 
whole  difpofition  of  its  edifice  fo  well 
conduced  and  ordered,  that  it  partici- 
pate of  no  kind  of  indecorum  or  appar- 
ent incommodity. 

41.  Now  to  accomplifh  this  with  more 
pleafure,  &  leffe  pain,  it  will  be  alwayes 
fit  to  place  it  in  the  middle  flages,  to  a- 
void  the  dampnefs  of  the  ground,  which 

engenders 


us         Erecting  of 


engenders  mouldinefs,  and  is  a  certain 
rottennefs  that  does  ataque  Books  infen- 
fibly,  and  that  the  Garrets  and  Cham- 
bers above  may  preferve  it  from  intem- 
peratures  of  the  air;  as  thofe  whofe 
roofs  are  low  quickly  refent  the  incom- 
modity  of  the  rain,  fnow,  and  heats; 
Which  if  there  be  no  means  eafily  to 
avoid,  yet  ought  one  at  leaft  to  be  care- 
ful that  they  afcend  to  them  by  four  or 
five  fteps,  as  I  have  obferved  in  the 
Ambrojian  at  Milan ;  &  the  higher  the 
better,  and  that  as  well  in  refpe6l  of  its 
beauty,  as  to  avoid  the  named  incon- 
veniences ;  otherwife,  the  place  being 
humid,  and  ill  fituated,  you  muft  of  ne- 
ceffity  have  recourfe  to  mats  or  tapif- 
tries,  to  line  the  walls  withall,  and  to 
the  ftove  or  chimney,  in  which  nothing 


muft 


a  Library          119 

muftbe  confumed  fave  wood,  which  will 
burn  without  fmoke,  to  heat  &  dry  the 
room  during  the  winter,  and  other  wet 
feafons  of  the  year. 

€L  But  all  thefe  difficulties  and  circum- 
ftances  are  nothing  to  thofe  which  are 
to  be  obferved  for  the  giving  light,  and 
conveniently  placing  the  windows  of  a 
Library,  as  well  for  beingoffo  great  im- 
portance, that  it  be  fully  illuminated  to 
the  very  fartheft  corners,  as  in  refpe<5t 
likewife  of  the  feveral  natures  of  the 
winds  which  ordinarily  blow,  &  which 
produce  effe6ls  as  different  as  are  their 
qualities  and  the  places  through  which 
they  pafs  ;  upon  which,  I  fay,  there  are 
two  things  to  be  obferved ;  the  firft,  that 
the  tranfum  and  the  windows  of  the  Li- 
brary (if  they  mull  be  through-lights) 


120        Erecting  of 

be  not  diametrically  oppofite,  unlefs 
thofe  onely  which  give  day  to  fome  ta- 
ble; thatfo  the  lights  paffingnotthrough, 
the  place  be  fufficiently  fupplyed.  The 
fecond,  that  the  principal  overtures  be 
alwayes  placed  towards  the  Eaft,  as  well 
becaufe  of  the  early  light  which  the  Li- 
brary may  receive  in  the  morning,  as  in 
refpe<5t  of  the  winds  which  fpire  from 
that  quarter,  which  for  being  hot  &  dry 
of  nature,  do  wonderfully  attemper  the 
air,  fortifie  the  fenfes,  fubtilize  the  hu- 
mors, depure  the  fpirits,  preferve  a  good 
conftitution,  corre6l  the  bad,  &  in  a  word, 
are  very  healthy  and  falubrous:  where- 
as on  the  contrary,  thofe  which  blow 
from  the  Weft  are  more  troublefom  & 
noxious,  and  the  Meridional  more  dan- 
gerous than  all  the  reft,  for  that  being 

hot 


a  Library 


hot  and  moift  they  difpofe  things  to  cor- 
ruption, thickentheair,nourifhwormes, 
engender  vermine,  foment  and  create 
fickneffes,  difpofing  us  to  new  ones; 
whence  that  of  Hippocrates,  Auftri  audi- 
tum  hebetantes,  Caliginofi,caput  gravan- 
tes,pigri9  diflblventes;  for  that  they  fill 
the  head  with  certain  vapors  &  humidi- 
ties which  cloud  the  fpirits,  relax  the 
nerves,  obftrudl  the  conduits,  obfufk  the 
fenfe,&render  us  dull  &  almoft  unfit  for 
all  forts  of  a6lions;  Therefore,  in  defe6l 
of  the  firft,  you  fhould  have  recourfe  to 
thefeptentrionall,  and  which  by  reafon 
of  their  qualities,  cold,  and  drye,  ingen- 
ders  no  humidity,  and  do  well  conferve 
both  their  Books  and  Papers. 


CHAP. 


122        Erecting  of 


CHAP.  VII. 

Of  the  Order  which  it  is  requijite  to 
affign  them. 

\JU     C-7 

THE  feventh  point,  and  which 
feems  abfolutely  neceflary  to  be 
treated  of  after  the  precedent,  is  that  of 
the  Order  and  Difpojition  which  Books 
ought  to  obferve  in  a  Library;  for  with- 
out this,  doubtlefs,  all  inquiring  is  to  no 
purpofe,  and  our  labour  fruitlefs ;  feeing 
Books  are  for  no  other  reafon  laid  &  re- 
ferved  in  this  place,  but  that  they  may  be 
ferviceable  upon  fuch  occaiions  as  pre- 
fent  themfelves ;  Which  thing  it  is  not- 
withftanding  impoffible  to  eflfe6l,  unlefs 
they  be  ranged,  and  difpofed  according 

to 


a  Library          123 

to  the  variety  of  theirfubje6ts,or  infuch 
other  fort,  as  that  they  may  eafily  be 
found,asfoon  as  named.  I  affirm,  more- 
over, that  without  this  Order  and  difpo- 
fition,  be  the  colle6tion  of  Books  what- 
ever, were  it  of  fifty  thoufand  Volumes, 
it  would  no  more  merit  the  name  of 
a  Library ,  than  an  aflembly  of  thirty 
thoufand  men  the  name  of  an  Army, 
unleffe  they  be  martially  in  their  fever- 
al  quarters,  under  the  conduft  of  their 
Chiefs  and  Captains ;  or  a  vaft  heap  of 
ftones  and  materials,  that  of  a  Palace  or 
a  houfe,  till  they  be  placed  and  put  to- 
gether according  to  rule,  to  make  a  per- 
fe<5l  and  accomplifhed  ftru6ture.  And 
juft  as  we  fee  Nature,  Qua  nihil  unquam 
fine  ordine  meditata  e/t  vel  effecit,  does 
govern,  entertain,  and  conferve,  by  this 

onely 


124         Erecting  of 


onely  way,  fo  great  a  di verfity  of  things, 
without  the  ufe  whereof  we  could  not 
fuftain  &  preferve  our  bodies;  fo  ought 
we  to  believe,  that  to  entertain  our 
fpirit,  it  is  fit  that  the  objefts  and  things 
which  it  makes  ufe  of,  be  in  fuch  fort 
difpofed,  that  it  may  alwayes  and  at 
pleafure  difcern  the  one  from  the  other; 
draw,  and  feparate  them  at  his  fantafie, 
without  labour,  without  pains,  without 
confufion.  Which  yet  it  could  never 
accomplifh  in  the  affairs  of  Books,  if 
one  fhould  range  them  by  a  defign  of  a 
hundred  Prefles,  as  la  Croix  du  Maine 
propofes  towards  the  conclufion  of  his 
French  Bibliotheque ;  or  the  Caprices 
which  Julius  Camillus  expofes  in  the 
Idea  of  his  Theatre ;  and  much  lefs  yet, 
fhould  one  purfue  the  triple  divifions 

which 


a  Library  125 

which  John  Mabun  infers  from  thefe 
words  of  the  Pfalmift,  Difciplinam,  bo- 
nitatem,  &  fcientiam  doce  mey  for  the 
diftribution  of  all  forts  of  Books  under 
the  three  ClaJJes,  &  principal  heads  of 
Morals,  of  the  Sciences,  and  of  Devo- 
tion ;  For  as  the  Eele  efcapes,  by  being 
too  hard  preffed,  that  Artificial  Memo- 
ry fpoils  and  perverts  the  natural,  and 
that  we  frequently  fail  of  accomplifhing 
many  affairs,  by  crouding  them  with 
too  many  circumftances  and  precau- 
tions ;  fo  is  it  certain,  that  it  would  be  ex- 
treamly  difficult  for  any  fpirit,  to  regu- 
late, &  accuftom  itfelf  to  this  Oecono- 
my,  which  feems  not  to  have  any  other 
fcope  but  to  torture  &  eternally  cruci- 
fie  the  Memory,  under  the  Thorns  of 
thofe  frivolous  Punctilios  &  Chymerick 


fubtilties ; 


126        Erecting  of 


fubtilties ;  fo  far  is  it  from  rendring  us 
the  leaft  aid,  &  verifie  the  faying  of  Ci- 
cero, Ordo  e/t  maxime  qui  memories  lu- 
men qffert.  And  therefore  making  no 
more  efteem  of  an  order  that  can  onely 
be  followed  by  an  Author,  which  will 
not  be  underftood,  I  conceive  that  to  be 
alwayes  the  beft  which  is  moft  facil,  the 
leaft  intricate,  moft  natural,  pra<5lifed,  & 
which  follows  the  Faculties  of  Theologie, 
Phyjick,  Jurif prudence,  Mathematicks, 
Humanity,  &  others,  which  fhould  be 
fubdivided  each  of  them  into  particulars, 
according  to  their  feveral  members, 
which  for  this  purpofe  ought  to  be  rea- 
fonably  well  underftood  by  him  who  has 
the  charge  of  the  Library ;  as  for  exam- 
ple, in  Divinity,  you  fhould  ever  place 

the  Bibles  firft,  according  to  the  order 

— 


a  Library          127 

of  the  tongues,next  thefe,  the  Councells, 
Synods,  Decrees,  Canons,  &  all  that  con- 
cerns \heEccleJiaftical  constitutions;  for- 
afmuch  as  they  retain  the  fecond  place 
of  authority  amongft  us  ;  After  thefe, 
the  Fathers,  Greek  &  Latine ;  then  the 
Commentators,  Scholafticks,  Mix'd  Doc- 
tors, Hiftorians,  and  finally,  the  Here- 
tiques.  In  Philojophy,  to  begin  with  that 
of  Trifmegiftus  as  the  moft  antient,  fol- 
low by  that  of  Plato,  of  Ariftotle,  of 
Raymondus  Lullius,  Ramus,  and  finifh 
with  the  Novators,  Telejius,  Patricius, 
Campanella,  Verulamius,  Gilbert,  Jor- 
danus  Brunus,  GaJJendus,  BaJJbnus,  Go- 
mejius,  Carpenter,  Gorleus,  which  are  the 
principal  amongft  a  thoufand  others: 
and  fo  to  obferve  the  like  in  all  Facul- 
ties; with  thefe  cautions,  feduloufly  ob- 

ferved : 


iss        Erecting  of 

ferved:  the  firft,  that  the  moft  univerfal 
&  antient,  do  alwayes  march  in  front ; 
the  fecond,  that  the  Interpreters  &  Com- 
mentators be  placed  apart,  &  rang'd  ac- 
cording to  the  order  of  the  Books  which 
they  explicate ;  the  third,  that  the  par- 
ticular Treatifes  follow  the  rank  and 
difpofition  of  their  matter  and  fubjeft, 
in  the  Arts  and  Sciences;  the  fourth  & 
laft,  that  all  Books  of  like  argument  & 
fubje<5l  be  precifely  reduced,  and  difci- 
plin'd  in  their  deftin'd  places  ;  fince  in 
fo  doing,  the  memory  is  fo  refrefhed, 
that  it  would  be  eafie  in  a  moment  onely 
to  find  out  whatever  Book  one  would 
choofe  or  defire,  in  a  Library  that  were 
as  vaft  as  that  of  Ptolomy ;  to  eflfe6l 
which  yet  with  more  eafe  and  content- 
ment, care  muft  be  had,  that  thofe  Books 

which 


a  Library 


which  are  in  too  fmall  Volumes  to  be 
bound  alone,  be  joyned  onely  with  fuch 
as  treat  upon  the  like  or  very  fame  fub- 
je6l ;  and  yet  it  were  better  to  bind  them 
alfo  {ingle,  then  to  make  fo  great  a  con- 
fufion  in  a  Library  as  joyning  them  with 
others  of  fubje<5ls  fo  extravagant  and 
wide,  that  a  man  fhould  never  imagine 
to  find  them  in  fuch  Companies.  I 
know  well,  that  one  may  reprefent  to 
me  here  two  notable  inconveniencies, 
which  accompany  this  order ;  viz.  the 
difficulty  of  handfomly  reducing  and 
placing  of  certain  mixed  Books  in  any 
ClaJJes  or  principal  Faculty,  and  the 
continual  pains  which  attends  the  dif- 
turbing  of  a  Library  when  one  is  to 
range  a  thirty  or  fourty  Volumes  into 
feveral  places  thereof:  But  to  this  I 

reply, 


130        Erecting  of 


reply,  Firft,  that  there  are  but  very  few 
Books  but  what  are  reducible  to  fome 
order,  efpecially  when  one  has  many 
of  them ;  being  once  placed,  a  very 
fleight  memory  will  ferve  to  admonifh 
one  where  they  Hand ;  and  at  the  worft, 
it  is  but  to  deftine  a  certain  place  to 
martial  them  in  altogether :  And  as  to 
the  fecond  Obje6lion,  It  is  true,  that  a 
man  might  avoid  fome  trouble  by  fet- 
ting  the  Books  loofe,or  in  leaving  fome 
fmall  place  at  the  extreams  of  the 
fhelves,  or  places,  where  every  faculty 
ends :  but  it  would  yet,  me  thinks,  be 
much  more  advantagious,  to  choofe 
fome  place  deftin'd  for  fuch  Books  as 
fhould  be  purchafed  during  every  fix 
moneths,  at  expiration  whereof  they 
fhould  be  ranged  amongft  the  reft,  each 


in 


a  Library 


in  their  proper  ftages;  fince  by  this 
means  alfo  they  would  be  the  better, 
being  dufted  and  handled  twice  a  year; 
And  however,  I  conceive,  that  this  or- 
der being  the  moil  pra6lifed  will  ever 
be  efteemed  much  better  &  eafier  than 
that  of  the  Ambrojian  Library,  &  fome 
others,  where  all  the  Books  are  indif- 
ferently ranged  pellmejle,  according  to 
the  order  of  their  Volumes  and  Ciflfers, 
and  onely  diftinguifhed  in  a  Catalogue, 
wherein  every  piece  is  found  under  the 
name  of  its  Author;  forafmuch  as  that 
to  avoid  the  precedent  inconveniencies, 
it  draws  along  with  it  an  Iliad  of  others, 
to  many  whereof  one  may  yet  prefcribe 
a  remedy,  by  a  Catalogue  faithfully  com- 
piled according  to  the  Claffes,  and  each 
Faculty  fubdivided  to  the  moft  precife 

and 


132        Erecting  of 


and  particular  of  their  parts. 
C,  There  now  remains  only  Manu- 
fcripts  to  be  fpoken  of,  which  cannot 
be  better  placed  then  in  fome  quarter 
of  the  Library,  there  being  no  occafion 
to  feparate  and  fequefter  them  from  it ; 
lince  they  compofe  the  beft  part  &  the 
moft  curious,  &  efteemed  ;  to  this  add, 
that  divers  eafily  perfwade  themfelves, 
when  they  do  not  fee  them  amongft  the 
reft  of  the  bookes,  that  all  thofe  Cham- 
bers where  we  ufe  to  fay  they  are  lock't 
up,  are  onely  imaginary,  and  only  def- 
tin'd  to  excufe  fuch  as  indeed  have  none. 
There  we  may  fee  one  intire  fide  of  the 
Ambrojian  Library  which  is  filled  with 
nine  thoufand  Manuscripts ,  which  have 
all  been  aflembled  by  the  care  &  dili- 
gence of  the  Sieur  Jovanni  Antonio  Ol- 

giati; 


a  Library          133 

giati;  And  in  that  of  M.  the  Prejident 
Thuanus,  there  is  one  Chamber  of  the 
fame  floor  with  the  reft,  deftin'd  for  this 
purpofe.  And  therefore,  in  prefcribing 
the  order  which  one  might  thence  ob- 
ferve,  you  muft  confider  that  there  are 
two  forts  of  Manuscripts,  &  that  thofe 
which  are  of  a  juft  Volume  &  Bulk  may 
be  martial'd  as  other  Books  are;  with 
this  precaution  neverthelefs,  that  in  cafe 
there  be  any  of  great  confequence,  pro- 
hibited, and  defended,  they  be  placed 
upon  the  upmoft  fhelves,  &  without  any 
exteriour  Title,  that  fo  this  may  be  the 
fartheft  diftant  both  from  hand  and  eye, 
&  fo  neither  to  be  known  nor  handled 
but  at  the  difcretion  of  him  which  hath 
the  charge  of  them ;  the  fame  which 
ought  alfo  to  be  put  in  pra6lice  with  the 

other 


134 


Erecting  of 


other  fort  of  Manuscripts  which  confift 
in  fheets,  &  fmall  loofe  pieces ;  which 
fhould  be  united  by  bundles  &  parcels 
according  to  their  fubje<5ls,  and  placed 
upmoft  of  all  the  reft,  becaufe  being 
fmall,  &  eafily  tranfcribed,  they  would 
be  daily  obnoxious  to  be  taken  away  or 
borrowed,  if  they  fhould  be  placed  in 
any  part  where  they  might  be  feen  & 
handled  by  every  one,  as  it  frequently 
happens  to  Books  which  lye  upon  dejks 
in antient Libraries:  And  this  isfufficient 
to  have  been  fpoken  upon  this  point  on 
which  there  is  no  farther  need  of  en- 
larging, fince  the  order  of  Nature  which 
is  alwayes  uniform  &  like  her  felf,  not 
being  to  be  exa<5lly  imitated,  by  rea- 
fon  of  the  extravagancy  &  diversity  of 
Books,  there  onely  remains  that  of  Art, 

which 


a  Library          135 

which  every  man  will  for  the  moft  part 
eftablifh  according  to  his  own  fancy, 
and  as  he  finds  beft  to  fuite  his  purpofe, 
by  his  own  judgement  and  underftand- 
ing,  as  well  to  fatisfie  himfelf,  as  be- 
caufe  he  will  not  follow  the  tracks  and 
opinions  of  others. 


CHAP, 


Erectin    of 


CHAP.   VIII. 

Of  the  Ornament  and  Decoration 
neceffarily  to  be  obferved. 

I  SHOULD  willingly  difpenfe  with 
this  laft  Confideration,  to  pafs  to 
that  which  ought  to  clofe  and  fhut  up 
thefe  InftruStions,  were  I  not  advertif  'd 
by  that  excellent  faying  of  Typotius,  Ig- 
notapopulo  eft  &  mortua  pene  ipf  a  virtus 
fine  lenocinio,  to  fpeak  a  word  by  the 
way  concerning  the  exteriour  parade  & 
ornament  which  is  requifite  to  a  Libra- 
ry, confidering  that  this  fard  &  decora- 
tion feems  to  be  neceflary,  fince  accord- 
ing to  the  faying  of  the  fame  Author, 
Omnis  apparatus  bellicus,  omnes  machine 

forenfes, 


a  Library          137 

forenfes,  omnis  denique  fupellex  domef- 
tica,  ad  oftentationem  comparata  sunt:  & 
to  fpeak  truth,  that  which  makes  me 
the  more  eafily  excufe  the  paffion  of 
thofe  who  at  prefent  feek  after  this 
pomp  with  a  great  deal  of  expence  & 
ufelefs  coft,  is,  that  the  Antients  have 
therein  been  more  prodigal  than  we ; 
for  let  us  firft  of  all  confider,  what  the 
ftru6lure  &  building  of  their  Libraries 
were ;  IJidorus  will  tell  us,  that  they 
were  all  paved  with  Serpentine  marble, 
&  the  roof  overlaid  with  Gold ;  Boetius, 
that  the  Walls  were  lined  with  Glafs  & 
Ivory ;  Seneca,  that  the  Prefles  &  Defks 
were  of  Ebony  &  Cedar:  If  we  enquire 
what  rare  and  exquifite  pieces  they  put 
into  them;  Both  the  Plinies,  Sueton, 
Martial ,  &  Vopifcus,  will  teftifie  through 

aU 


Erecting  of 


all  their  works,  that  they  fpar'd  neither 
Gold  nor  Silver  to  decore  them  with 
the  Images,  and  lively  Statues  of  all  the 
gallant  men.  And  finally,  if  you  would 
know  what  was  the  Ornament  of  the 
Books ;  Seneca  does  nothing  elfe  than 
reprehend  the  lux  and  exceffive  ex- 
pences  which  they  were  at  in  painting, 
gilding,  limming,  covering  and  binding, 
with  all  kind  of  bumbaft,  miniardife  and 
fuperfluity.  But  that  we  may  extraft 
fome  inftru6lions  from  thefe  diforders, 
we  ought  to  choofe  and  draw  out  of 
thefe  extreams  that  which  is  fo  requifite 
for  a  Library,  that  we  may  at  no  hand 
negleft  it,  without  avarice,  nor  exceed 
without  prodigality ;  I  fay,  firft  of  all, 
That  as  to  the  binding  of  Books,  there 
is  no  need  of  extraordinary  expence  ; 

it 


a  Library          139 

it  were  better  to  referve  that  mony  for 
the  purchafing  of  all  the  books  of  the 
faireft  and  beft  editions  that  are  to  be 
found ;  unlefs  that  to  delight  the  eyes 
of  Spe6lators,  you  will  caufe  all  the 
backs  of  fuch  as  fhall  be  bound  as  well 
in  Rough,  as  in  Calvejkin,  or  Morroccin, 
to  be  gilded  with  filets,  and  fome  little 
flowers,  with  the  name  of  the  Authors ; 
for  which  you  may  have  recourfe  to 
the  Guilder  that  is  ufed  to  work  for 
the  Library,  as  alfo  to  the  Binder,  to  re- 
pair the  backs  and  peeled  covers,  re- 
ftitch  them,  accommodate  the  tranfpofi- 
tions,  new  pafte  the  Mapps  &  Figures, 
cleanfe  the  fpoiled  leaves,  and  briefly, 
to  keep  all  things  in  a  condition  fit  for 
the  ornament  of  the  place,  and  the  con- 
fer vation  of  the  Books. 

€L  Nor 


Erecting  of 


CNor  is  there  any  neceffity  of  feeking 
for,  and  amaffing  in  a  Library  all  thefe 
pieces  and  fragments  of  old  Statues, 

Et  Curios  jam  dimidios,  humeroque  mi- 

norem, 
Corvinum,  &  Galbam  auriculis  nafoque 

carentem ; 

It  being  fufficient  to  have  good  Copies 
drawn  from  fuch  as  are  moft  famous  in 
the  profeffion  of  Letters ;  that  thereby 
a  man  may  at  once  make  judgement 
of  the  wit  of  the  Authours  by  their 
Books,  and  by  their  bodies ;  figure,  and 
phyfiognomy  by  thefe  Pi6lures  and 
Images,  which  joyn'd  to  the  defcription 
which  many  have  made  of  their  lives, 
may  ferve,  in  my  opinion,  as  a  puiflant 
fpurre  to  excite  a  generous  and  well- 
born 


a  Library 


born  Soul  to  follow  their  track,  and  to 
continue  firm  and  ftable  in  the  wayes 
and  beaten  paths  of  fome  noble  enter- 
prife  and  refolution. 
L  Much  lefs  ought  one  to  employ  fo 
much  gold  on  the  Cieling,  Ivory  and 
glafs  upon  the  Walls,  the  Cedar  Shelves, 
and  Marble  Floors,  feeing  this  is  not 
now  in  ufe;  nor  do  they  now  place 
their  Books  upon  Defks,  as  the  antients 
did  ;  but  upon  Shelves  that  hide  all  the 
Walls  ;  but  in  lieu  of  fuch  gildings  and 
adornings,  one  may  fupply  it  in  Math- 
ematical Inftruments,  Globes,  Mapps, 
Spheres,  PiStures,  Animals,  Stones,  and 
other  curiofities  as  well  Artificial  as 
Natural,  which  are  ordinarily  colle6led 
from  time  to  time,  with  very  little  ex- 
pence. 

C  Finally, 


142        Erecting  of 


CL  Finally,  it  would  be  a  great  forget- 
fulnefs,  if  after  we  have  thus  furnifht 
a  Library  with  all  things  requifite,  it 
fhould  not  have  the  Shelves  garnifh'd 
with  fome  fleight  fearge,  buckrom  or 
canvas,  fitted  on  with  nails  filvered  or 
gilt,  as  well  to  preferve  the  Books  from 
duft,  as  to  render  a  handfom  ornament 
and  grace  to  the  whole  place ;  and  alfo, 
fhould  it  be  unprovided  of  Tables,  Car- 
pets, Seats,  Brufhes,  Balls  of  Jafper, 
Conferves,  Clocks,  Pens,  Paper,  Ink, 
Penneknifes,  Sand,  Almanacks,  and 
other  fmall  moveables,  and  fuch  like 
Inftruments,  which  are  of  fo  little  coft, 
and  yet  fo  neceflary,  that  there  is  no 
excufe  for  fuch  as  neglecSl  to  make  this 
provifion. 

CHAP. 


a  Library          143 


CHAP.  IX. 

What  ought  to  be  the  principal  J cope  and 
end  offuch  a  Library. 

A<L  things  being  in  this  equipage, 
there  remains  nothing  more  for 
the  accomplifhment  of  this  difcourfe, 
than  to  know  what  ought  to  be  its  prin- 
cipal end  and  ufe ;  for  to  imagine  that 
after  all  this  pains  and  expence,  thefe 
lights  are  to  be  fet  under  a  Bufhel,  and 
condemn  fo  many  brave  witts  to  a  per- 
petual filence  &  folitude,  is  ill  to  under- 
ftand  the  fcope  of  a  Library  9  which  nor 
more  nor  lefle  thanNature  herfelf,P^r- 
ditura  estfru£lumfui,Ji  tarn  magna,  tarn 
prceclara,  tamfubtiliterdi£ta9  tarn  nitida, 


144        Erecting  of 


&non  unogenereformofa9folitudine  of- 
tenderit,  fcias  illam  fpeStari  voluifle,  non 
tantum  afpicL  Therefore,  I  fhall  tell 
you,  my  Lord,  with  as  much  freedom 
as  affeftion,  for  your  fervice,  That  in 
vain  does  a  man  ftrive  to  put  in  execu- 
tion any  of  the  forefaid  Expedients, 
or  be  at  any  notable  charge  for  Books, 
who  has  not  a  defign  to  devote  and  con- 
fecrate  them  to  the  publick  ufe,  or  de- 
nies to  communicate  them  to  the  leaft, 
who  may  reap  any  benefit  thereby ;  fo 
true  is  that  faying  of  the  Poet , 
Vile  latens  virtus,  quid  enim  demerfa 

tenebris 

Proderit9  obfcuro  velutijine  remige  pup- 
pis, 

Vel  lyra  qua  reticet,  vel  qui  non  tenditur 
arcus. 


a  Library  145 

So  far  was  it  one  of  the  principal  M  ax- 
imes  of  the  moft  fumptuous  and  fplen- 
did  amongft  the  Romans,  or  of  thofe 
who  were  moft  affefted  to  the  publique 
good,  to  enrich  many  of  thofe  Libraries, 
to  bequeath  &  deftine  them  afterwards 
to  the  ufe  of  all  the  learned  men ;  fo  that 
even  according  to  the  calculation  of 
Peterus  ViStor,  there  were  nine  &  twen- 
ty at  Rome,  and  as  Palladius  reports, 
thirty  feven,  which  were  fo  evident  indi- 
cations of  the  grandieur,  magnificence, 
&  fumptuofity  of  the  Romans,  that  Pan- 
cirolus  had  reafon  to  attribute  to  our 
negligence,  &  to  range  amongft  thofe 
memorable  things  of  Antiquity,  which 
defcended  not  to  our  times,  thefe  af- 
fured  teftimonies  of  the  opulency,  and 
good  affe6lion  of  the  Antients  towards 

thofe 


146        Erecting  of 


thofe  who  made  profeffion  of  Letters  ; 
and  that  with  fo  much  more  reafon,  as 
that  there  are  at  prefent,  as  far  as  I 
can  underftand,  none  fave  thofe  of  the 
Knight  Bodley  in  Oxford ;  of  Cardinal 
Borromeus  at  Milan,  of  the  Auguftine 
Fryers  at  Rome,  where  one  may  freely 
enter,  and  without  difficulty;  all  the 
reft,  as  that  ofMuretus9Fulvius  Urfinus, 
Montalto,  and  the  Vatican;  OfMedicis, 
and  Petrus  ViStor,  at  Florence ;  of  Bejfa- 
rion,  at  Venice ;  of  St.  Anthony  ofPadoua; 
of  the  Jacobins,  at  Boulogne;  of  the  Au- 
guftines,  at  Cremona ;  of  Cardinal  Siri- 
pandus,  at  Naples;  of  Frederick,  Duke 
of  Urbin ;  ofNunneJius,  at  Barcelona;  of 
Ximenes,  at  Complutum;  of  Ranzovius, 
at  Brandeburg;  ofFoulcres,  at  Aujbourg; 
and  finally,  the  King's  at  S.  ViStor,  & 

of 


a  Library          147 

of  M.  de  T.  at  Paris,  which  are  all  of 
them  fair  and  admirable;  but  neither 
open  to  every  one,  nor  fo  eafie  of  accefs, 
as  are  the  three  precedent :  for  tofpeak 
of  the  Ambrojian  of  Milan  onely,  and 
fhew  how  (by  the  fame  means)  it  fur- 
pafies  as  well  in  greatnefs  and  magnifi- 
cence, as  in  obliging  the  publique,  many 
of  thofe  that  were  even  amongft  the 
Romans ;  is  it  not  a  thing  altogether  ex- 
traordinary, that  any  one  may  come 
into  it,  almoft  at  all  hours  he  will,  ftay 
as  long  as  he  pleafes,  fee,  read,  extra6l 
what  Authors  he  defires,  have  all  the 
means  &  conveniences  to  do  it,  be  it  in 
publique  or  particular,  &  that  without 
any  other  labour,  than  vifiting  it  him- 
felf  at  the  ordinary  dayes,  and  hours, 
placing  himfelf  in  the  feats  deftin'd  for 

this 


148        Erecting  of 


this  purpofe,  &  afking  of  the  Bibliothe- 
cary  for  thofe  Books  which  he  defires  to 
make  ufe  of,  or  of  any  three  of  his  fer- 
vants,  who  are  well  ftipendiated,  &  en- 
tertain'd  as  well  for  the  fervice  of  the 
Library,  as  of  all  thofe  who  come  every 
day  thither  to  ftudy  in  it. 
C.  But  to  regulate  this  liberty  with  ci- 
vility, and  all  thofe  precautions  which 
are  requifite,  I  fuppofe  it  would  be  ex- 
pedient to  make  ele<5lion  &  choice  in 
the  firft  place  of  fome  honeft  perfon, 
learned,  &  well  experienced  in  Books, 
to  give,  together  with  the  charge  and 
requifite  ftipends,  the  title  &  quality  of 
Bibliothecary  unto,  as  we  fee  it  has  been 
pra6lif  'd  in  all  the  moft  renoun'd  Li- 
braries, where  divers  gallant  men  have 
alwayes  thought  themfel ves  much  hon- 
oured 


a  Library          149 

cured  in  executing  this  charge,  &  have 
rendred  it  mod  illuftrious  and  recom- 
mendable  by  their  great  learning  and 
capacity;  as  for  inftance,  Demetrius 
PhaleriuSy  Callimachus,  Apollonius,  Al- 
exandrinus,  Ariftoxenus,  &  Zenodotus, 
who  had  the  charge  heretofore  of  that 
of  Alexandria ;  Varro  &  Hyginus,  who 
govern'd  that  on  Mount  Palatinus  at 
Rome ;  Leidratus  and  Agobardus,  that 
of  the  Ifland  Barbe  near  Lyons  under 
Charlemaine ;  Petrus  Diaconus  that  of 
Mount  Coffin ;  Platina,  Eugubinus  and 
Sirlettus,  that  of  the  Vatican ;  Sabellius 
that  of  Venice ;  Wolphius  ofBqfil ;  Greu- 
ter  that  of  Heidelburgh;  Douza  and 
Paulus  Merula  that  of  Ley  den,  whom 
the  learned  Heinjius  has  fucceeded  ;  as 
after  Budteus,  GoJJelinus,  &  Cafaubon, 


150        Erecting  of 


M.  Rigaultius  does  at  prefent  govern 
the  Bibliotheque  Royal  eftablifhed  by 
King  Francis  thejirfl,  and  exceedingly 
augmented  by  the  extream  induftry  & 
diligence  which  he  ufed. 
C.  After  all  which  it  fhall  be  very  re- 
quifiteto  make  two  Catalogues  of  all  the 
Books  contained  in  the  Library,  in  one 
whereof  they  fhould  be  fo  precifely  dif- 
pof'd  according  to  their  feveral  Matters 
and  Faculties,  that  one  may  fee  &  know 
in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  all  the  Au- 
thors which  do  meet  there  upon  the 
firft  fubje6l  that  fhall  come  into  ones 
head ;  and  in  the  other,  they  fhould  be 
faithfully  ranged  and  reduced  under  an 
Alphabetical  order  of  their  Authours,  as 
well  to  avoid  the  buying  of  them  twice, 
as  to  know  what  are  wanting,  &  fatisfie 


a  Library          151 

a  number  of  perfons  that  are  fometimes 
curious  of  reading  all  the  works  of  cer- 
tain Authours  in  particular.  Which  be- 
ing thus  eftablifhed,  the  advantage  to 
be  gained  is  in  my  opinion  extreamly 
important ;  be  it  in  refpe<5l  to  the  par- 
ticular profit  which  the  Owner  &  Bib- 
liothecary  may  thereby  receive,  or  in 
regard  of  the  renown  to  be  acquired 
by  their  communication  with  every- 
body ;  that  we  may  not  be  like  to  thofe 
avaritious  perfons,  who  take  no  felicity 
in  their  riches ;  or  to  that  malicious  Ser- 
pent, who  fuffered  none  to  approach 
and  gather  the  fruits  of  the  Garden  of 
Hefpendes;  efpecially  confidering,  that 
there  is  nothing  eftimable,  but  as  it  be- 
comes profitable  &  ufeful :  &  for  that, 
concerning  Books  in  particular,  they 


are 


152         Erecting  of 


are  like  to  the  Man  of  whom  Horace 
fpeaks  in  one  of  his  Epiftles, 

Odifti  claves  &  grata  Jigillapudico 
Faucis  oftendigemis,&communia  laudas. 

However,  fince  it  were  unreafonable  to 
profane  that  indifcreetly  which  (hould 
be  managed  with  judgement,  we  ought 
to  obferve;  that  feeing  all  Libraries 
cannot  continually  be  fo  open  as  the 
Ambrojian;  it  were  yet  at  leaft  wife 
permitted,  that  whoever  had  occafion 
for  it,  fhould  have  free  acceffe  to  the 
Bibliothecary,  whofhould  introduce  him 
with  the  leaft  delay  or  difficulty ;  fec- 
ondly,that  thofe  which  were  altogether 
ftrangers,  and  all  others  that  had  ufe 
onely  of  fome  paffages,  might  fearch  & 
extra<5l  out  of  all  printed  Books,  what- 
ever 


a  Library 


ever  they  flood  in  need  of:  thirdly,  that 
perfons  of  merit  &  knowledge  might  be 
indulged  to  carry  fome  few  ordinary 
Books  to  their  own  Lodgings,  never- 
thelefs  yet  with  thefe  cautions,  that  it 
fhould  not  be  for  above  a  fortnight  or 
three  weeks  at  moft,  &  that  the  Library- 
keeper  be  careful  to  regifter  in  a  Book 
deftin'd  for  this  purpofe,  &  divided  by 
Letters  Alphabetically,  whatfoever  is 
fo  lent  out  to  one  or  other,  together  with 
the  date  of  the  day,  the  form  of  the 
Volume,  &  the  place  &  year  of  its  im- 
preffion ;  &  all  this  to  be  subfcribed  by 
the  Borrower,  this  to  be  cancel'd  when 
the  Book  is  returned,  &  the  day  of  its 
reddition  put  in  the  margent,  thereby 
to  fee  how  long  it  has  been  kept ;  and 
that  fuch  as  fhall  have  merited  by  their 

diligence 


154        Erecting  of 


diligence  and  care  in  conferving  of 
Books,  may  have  others  the  more  read- 
ily lent  to  them.  Affuring  you,  my 
Lord,  that  if  it  fhall  pleafe  you  to  purfue 
what  you  have  already  begun,  &  aug- 
ment your  Library  to  make  this  ufe  of 
it,  or  fome  other  which  you  fhall  judge 
to  be  better,  you  fhall  obtain  praifes 
incomparable,  infinite  acknowledge- 
ments, not  vulgar  advantages,  and  in 
brief,  a  fatisfaftion  indicible,  when  by 
running  over  this  Catalogue,  you  fhall 
confider  the  courtefies  which  you  have 
done,  the  gallant  men  you  have  obliged, 
the  perfons  which  fhall  have  feen  you, 
the  new  friends  &  fervants  which  you 
fhall  have  acquired,  &  in  a  word,  when 
you  fhall  have  judged  by  the  finger  & 
the  eye,  how  much  glory  &  reputation 

your 


a  Library  155 

your  Library  fhall  have  produced  you ; 
Towards  whofe  progrefs  and  augmen- 
tation, I  proteft  I  would  willingly,  and 
whilft  I  live,  contribute  all  that  I  could 
poffible ;  as  I  have  already  taken  the 
boldnefs  to  render  you  fome  teftimo- 
nies  of  it  by  thefe  Inftru6lions,  which  I 
hope  in  time  fo  to  polifh  and  augment, 
that  it  fhall  not  blufh  the  publication, 
to  difcourfe  &  fpeak  more  at  large  on  a 
fubje<5t  not  hitherto  treated  of,  &  let- 
ting the  world  fee,  under  the  Title  of 
Bibliotheca  Memmiana,  what  has  been 
fo  long  wifhed  for,  An  ample  &  particu- 
lar Hiftory ,  both  of  Letters  &  of  Books ; 
the  Judgement  &  Cenfure  of  Authors, 
the  Names  of  the  beft  &  moft  neceffary 
in  each  Faculty;  the  Scourge  of  Pla- 
giaries, the  Progrefle  of  the  Sciences, 

the 


156        Erecting  of 


the  Diverfity  of  SeSts,  the  Revolutions 
of  Arts  and  Difciplines,  the  Decadence 
of  the  Antient,  the  feveral  Principles  of 
the  Novators;  &  that  Excellent  Law  of 
the  Pyrrhenians  founded  upon  the  igno- 
rance of  all  men ;  under  the  umbrage 
whereof  I  do  moft  humbly,  my  Lord, 
befeech  you,  to  excufe  my  own,  and  to 
receive  thefe  Render  Inftrutfions,  though 
courfe  and  ill  woven,  as  pledges  of  my 
good  will,  and  of  that  which  I  promife 
to  prefent  you  one  day,  with  a  greater 
attendance,  and  better  equipage. 

Nunc  te  marmoreumpro  temporefecimus, 

at  tu 
Sifceturagregemfuppleverit,  aureusejlo. 

FINIS. 


a  Library          157 

The  Copy  of  a  Letter  fent  to  the  Learn- 
ed, my  moft  honour'd  and  worthy 
Friend,  Dr.  Barlow,  D.D.  Provoft 
of  Queens  Colledge,  and  late  Proto- 
Bibliothecary  of  the  Bodleian  Libra- 
ry in  Oxford. 

Reverend  Sir, 

"\)  whatpurpofe  Ihaddejigrid  the 
Copy  which  you  were  longjince 
pleaf'd  to  favour  me  with  accepting,  I  do 
nowpubli/h;  &  by  this  acknowledgement 
exprefs  my  obligations  to  you;  that  though 
there  was  nothing  of  mine  in  what  I 
transmitted  to  you  bejide  the  pleafure  of 
putting  afubjeSt  into  Englifh,  which  I 
thought  might  be  acceptable  to  you;  you 
would  yet  honour  me  with  Printing  at 
Oxford ;  and  where,  Jince  it  was  loft,  it 


is 


158        Erecting  of 


is  here  retriv'd,  and  by  the  fame  hand 
prefented  again  to  you ;  but  not  as  a  thing 
which  can  in  the  leaft  pretend  to  inftruSl 
you,  who  not  onely  haveprejided  over  one 
of  the  mojl  illuftrious  Libraries  in  the 
World;  but  are  alfo  of  your  f elf  (as 
Eunapius  would  exprefs  the  merits  of 
the  Sophift  Longinus)  /Ji/SXio^'joj  ^v 
X<>9,  fcal  TrepiTTdTovv  /xoucretoj/ ;  and  to 
whom,  with  no  lefs  reafon9  may  well  be 
apply ed  what  S.  Hieromfaid  once  of 
Origen ;  Auxerunt  aliorum  ftudia  Bib- 
liothecas,  ac  per  partes  compleverunt : 
unus  tamen  ( Barlous )  ingenii  facilitate, 
Bibliothecam  unam  quamvis  ingentem, 
implere  potuit.  JVbr  do  I  believe  that  I 
Jhall  hereby  inform  you  of  a  thing  un- 
known to  you,  by  telling  you  that  the  per- 
fon  who  publi/hed  thefe  InJlruStions,  P. 

Ludovicus 


a  Library          159 

Ludovicus  Jacobus,  a  Monk,  hasfet forth 
a  larger  Treatife  or  Hiftory  of  the  mo/t 
famous  Libraries,  as  well  publique,  as 
particular,  which  have  either  been  hereto- 
fore, or  are  at  prefent  extant  in  all  the 
World;  where,  what  he  hathfpoken  in 
commendation  of  this  Piece,  &  the  learned 
Authour  of  it ;  what  honourable  mention 
he  makes  of  the  Bodlean  especially,  &  of 
all  thofe  ofthefeveral  Colledges  in  both 
our  Univerfities,  cannot  but  extreamly 
affeft  you,  and  be  very  acceptable  to  all 
thofe  that  delight  in  the  progrefs  &  ad- 
vancement of  Learning.  But  Sir,  I  do 
but  touch  it,  and,  after  my  AddreJJes  to 
my  L.  Chancellor, fubmit  thefe  papers  to 
your  favourable  cenfure;  becaufe  I  know, 
if  they  receive  it  now  afecond  time,  they 
will  be  doubly  fortified;  if  not  for  the fub- 

jeSt, 


Erecting  of  a  Library 


je£t,for  the  great  Names  which  compre- 
hend them.  But,  if  from  hence  alfo  the 
Gentlemen  of  our  Nation  derive  fuch 
encouragements,  as  may  any  way  incite 
them  to  imitate  thofe  gallant  &renoun'd 
Geniuf  's  of  our  de  Bury,  Bodley,  Cot- 
ton, Hales ;  Their  Memmius,  Thuanus, 
Putean,  Cordeiius,  &  a  thoufand  more 
celebrated  for  their  Libraries,  affeStion  to 
Books,  and  promotement  of  publique  de- 
Jigns,  I/ball  then  efteem  myfelfextreamly 
fortunate,  in  having  contributed  to  fo 
great  a  good ;  and  especially,  if  to  this 
alfo  be  added  your  Acceptation  of  thefe 
Exprejfions  of  it  from 

Reverend  Sir, 

Your  moft  humble,  and  moft 
aflfe<5lionate  Servant, 

J.  EVELYN. 


Four  hundred  and  nineteen  copies  of  this  book  were 
printed  at  the  RIVERSIDE  PRESS,  Cambridge,  in 
the  month  of  February, Mdcccciii.  Of  this  number 
four  hundred  are  for  sale. 


LENDER 
COLL.] 


